Much like another New York Yankees captain, Aaron Judge will stay in pinstripes for the rest of his career. But that assurance came after a tumultuous free agency last year. 2022 saw one of the best performances by the Bronx Bombers, particularly by Judge. Any team would have been lucky to have him, and many tried. Clubhouses lined up like suitors, asking for Judge’s hand, the biggest one being the San Francisco Giants.

All-Rise had clarified that New York was where he wanted to stay, but the Yankees took some time to satisfy his terms. Meanwhile, the Giants offered some great numbers to him, which he ultimately refused. Judge finally accepted the same offer from the Yankees, nine years for $360 million, because his heart was still in the Bronx. The team added the title of captain to sweeten the deal, but he was already the uncrowned leader for his teammates. However, he still met with other teams during his free agency period and only recently revealed why.

Despite a New York Yankees wish, Aaron Judge knew he had to see what other teams had to offer

It’s often said that trying is the actual victory. One may win or lose, but at least they tried. That is Judge’s philosophy, as he told the LA Dodgers’ Mookie Betts in a recent interview. “I wanted to stay in New York, I always want to be in New York. But I think, looking at it, I was like – I think I’d kick myself down the road if I just didn’t go through the process. Just check out the process, see what other teams have to offer,” the Yankees captain told Betts.

“I got to meet a lot of great coaches, a lot of great front offices, other players with other teams. And just kind of see how they ran things, what their mindset was.”

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Because as things stand, the Pinstripes were not the only good MLB team. “At the end of the day, what it came down to me was winning. I want to win,” Judge said plainly. Next, he is aiming for a World Series, but can the Yankees get there this year?

Will Judge’s World Series dreams turn to reality in 2023?

The Yankees had an excellent season in 2022, though the Houston Astros defeated them in the ALCS. Still, they were only one step short of a World Series appearance, which currently seems highly unlikely. 2023’s stats are nowhere near 2022, and Judge is already on the IL for a second time. While in interview, the All Rise also addressed his desire to winning World Series at that time.

He addressed Betts’ own World Series rings in the interview, “For me, that was my main goal. So looking through all the options, looking through all the teams we talked to, it always came back to which team’s gonna give me the best opportunity to win.”

While he finished with, “And New York is always at the top of that list,” the current status of the team says otherwise. Understandably, this interview took place just before Judge hurt his toe at Dodger Stadium, but would the captain say it differently now?

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