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NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Cleveland Indians during the second inning in Game Four of the American League Divisional Series at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-859531122.jpg?width=600)
via Getty
NEW YORK, NY – OCTOBER 09: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees looks on against the Cleveland Indians during the second inning in Game Four of the American League Divisional Series at Yankee Stadium on October 9, 2017 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
The telltale of the offseason preceding the 2023 season significantly circled around the 2022 American League MVP Aaron Judge. Judge placed a massive bet on himself. And entered the 2022 season, fighting the odds of an already opulent, eight-year contract worth $230 million.
What happened next, in 2022, was a public display of Judge displaying his abilities to the entire world. And in turn, found himself with various suitors, and a specific bidding war between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants.
In a recent interview with NBC Sports Bay Area & CA, two-time World Champion shortstop, Brandon Crawford from the Bay Area spoke about the turbulent trading season, where the Giants couldn’t acquire Aaron Judge or Carlos Correa. In continuation, Crawford revealed the reason why Judge signed with the Pinstripes, despite SF Giants pulling “out all stops.”
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Pulled out all the stops, but it all went in vain for the Giants with Aaron Judge
Brandon Craw spoke about the loyalty a player has for a team that they’re already representing while justifying Judge’s return to New York amidst the bidding war.
Brandon Crawford says the Giants "pulled out all the stops" while trying to recruit Aaron Judge pic.twitter.com/WPzfG9xn19
— NBC Sports Bay Area & CA (@NBCSAuthentic) February 5, 2023
Crawford said, “I was here for the Judge recruitment a little bit. I mean, the reason he went back to the Yankees wasn’t because of what we have here. It is first class. We pulled out all the stops. But he has to do what he did.”
The three-time All-Star, who’s been with the Giants since his MLB debut in 2011, continued to add, “I don’t blame him for wanting to stay with a team that you’re playing for. I’ve been there, so…”
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Carrying on Derek Jeter’s legacy
For eight years after Derek Jeter retired, the New York Yankees fielded a team without a captain. Finally, after eight long years of finding a suitable candidate to carry on Jeter’s legacy, the Pinstripes ownership appointed Aaron Judge as their new captain.
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/GettyImages-1245770505.jpg?width=150&blur=15)
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NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 21: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees poses for a photo with Derek Jeter during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in the Bronx, New York. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images)
What do you think about Aaron Judge – The Captain? Do you think he will fill Derek Jeter’s shoes successfully? Will he help break the Yankee World Series slump since 2009? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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Watch this story: This New York Yankees legend wants to assault GM Brian Cashman – Here’s why