One Yankees fan has some strong opinions on Aaron Judge’s new contract.
Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to remain a Yankee Wednesday morning in a move that made many Yankees fans ecstatic.
However, former WFAN radio host Mike Francesa called the contract “extreme” on the latest episode of “The Mike Francesa Podcast.”
Francesa’s big qualm with the contract is how old Judge will be in its latter years.
“He’ll be 31 on Opening Day so this contract is an extreme contract. It’s a bad contract. The Yankees will pay dearly on this contract in years seven, eight and nine. I don’t think there’s any question about that,” Francesa said. “He will not be the same player, because nobody is. You don’t know how he’s gonna age, how gracefully he’s gonna age, how productively he’s gonna age. But the bottom line is he’s had injury problems and he’s gonna be 31 late April.”
Aaron Judge got a nine-year, $360 million contract to stay with the Yankees. Corey Sipkin
Francesa acknowledged the happiness being felt by Yankees fans but made sure they knew that regular-season success is not enough.
“If you’re a Yankee fan today, I know you are happy,” Francesa said. “Some of you are overjoyed. You won’t be overjoyed with this contract six or seven years from now. But that doesn’t matter. There are going to be plenty of home runs, plenty of great moments from Judge before that. No one can discount that. But there has to be big postseason moments. And those have been few and far between. That’s what has to change.”
Mike Francesa at the Radio Hall of Fame induction on Nov. 15, 2018. Getty Images
The Astros have eliminated the Yankees two out of the last four years and have been the team they have been chasing year in and year out.
“Status quo is maintained,” Francesa said. “They still need to tinker with this team, improve this team in ways if they want to compete with the Astros.”