- Aaron Judge will head into new MLB season without Soto alongside him in the Bronx
- The pair helped the Yankees reach last year’s World Series
- Soto joined the Mets on a record breaking $765m, 15-year contract
Aaron Judge has broken his silence on the move that saw Juan Soto swap the New York Yankees for the New York Mets in a record breaking deal, last year.
Judge and Soto had been integral part of the Yankee’s team that reached last season’s World Series, where they eventually succumbed to the LA Dodgers 4-1.
However, Soto entered free agency at the culmination of the 2024 campaign when his contract with the Yankees expired. The four-time All Star opted against remaining at Yankee Stadium and instead took the Mets jaw dropping 15-year, $765m offer – the highest salary in professional sports history.
Aaron Judge, meanwhile, just over three months removed from a bitterly disappointing World Series, is now adjusting to life without the five-time Silver Slugger Award winning outfielder.
Judge was talking to reporters during the Yankees first full-team workout of Spring Training on Monday, when he was asked how Soto’s move to Citi Field will impact the Bronx Bombers.
The two-time American League MVP was quick to heap praise on his former teammate, while also acknowledging the new members of the Yankees roster who have arrived during free agency.
“Soto’s one of a kind, man. He’s a special player. I’m excited for him in his new chapter with the Mets. But we’ve added a lot of new pieces here… [Cody] Bellinger and [Paul] Goldschmidt, two guys that are former MVPs. Guys that are still wanting to improve, still wanting to get better. They’re going to add such a different dynamic to this team.”
Aaron Judge was asked if he was "surprised" Juan Soto left for the Mets for a better chance to win a World Series:
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) February 17, 2025
"That's his opinion. He can say what he wants, I definitely disagree with it. I wasn't too surprised by it, I think that's where he wanted to be." pic.twitter.com/1Y3p51YkNW
When pressed for a reaction to Soto’s comments that he stood a better chance at winning a World Series in Queens than the Bronx, Judge replied, “That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him, but I wasn’t too surprised by it. I think that’s where he wanted to be… He got a pretty nice deal over there, you can’t say no to that. I’m happy for him. He got a good deal, he’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in town, we’re going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years, so I’m definitely happy for him.”
Sans Soto, Judge will now look ahead to Spring Training, where the Yankees take on the Tampa Bay Rays this Friday followed by a game against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday and the Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Spring Training will finish up on March 25 against the Miami Marlins before regular season begins two days later with the first of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers.
(h/t SI.com)
