Nine years, $300 million, New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, and a gigantic bidding war is the current state of the matter that rotates around superstar outfielder and free agent, Aaron Judge. Amidst this, an interesting question that makes an appearance is whether Judge is the greatest free agent ever. However, MLB town thought otherwise, and an old and familiar name crossed everyone’s mind.
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When thinking of the best free agents ever, Aaron Judge is a name that comes to mind in modern-day baseball. However, back in 2000, when ex-Mariners shortstop Alex Rodriguez entered free agency, and his consequent signing of a whopping $250 million deal for ten years changes opinions.
Who is the greatest free agent ever?
Similarly, as the Aaron Judge chatter continued, the MLB Network reached out to Twitter with a controversial and debatable question. And said, “Do you think Aaron Judge is the greatest free agent ever?”
Do you think Aaron Judge is the greatest free agent ever?
Tell us why/why not using #MLBTonight and you might see your response on tonight’s show 👇 pic.twitter.com/flpU1Wbb17
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) December 4, 2022
While many fans believed that the answer to this question was Aaron Judge, many disagreed, and brought back memories of Alex Rodriguez.
This is how fans reacted to the controversial question:
No judge is an overrated player.
— Tatsuya(btファン) (@HZ9BWYbTRt7EBJN) December 5, 2022
#MLBTonight Alex Rodriguez was an elite defensive shortstop with comparable offensive numbers going into just his age-25 season. Unquestionably the most desirable free agent of all time.
— Ben Remelius (@benremelius) December 4, 2022
Arod when he signed with the Yankees *
— Mat (@moneyshotmat) December 4, 2022
Definitely not. AROD in 2000. Dude was 26. There’s no comparison (definitely not a knock on Judge either, just that age and pedigree as a FA is insane)
— Ben (@bwwasea) December 5, 2022
I’m a Yankee fan and NO, he is not. A-Rod had to be #1. When he was a FA he was 25, not almost 31.
— Chris (@campbell8212) December 5, 2022
The answer is Arod.
— Mat (@moneyshotmat) December 4, 2022
No, Arod was when he went to Texas
— Peter (@petermatra10) December 4, 2022
Bonds is most definitely the best free agent ever but there were a few FA close to him
— NickGotNext (@NickGotNext88) December 4, 2022
A-Rod, Barry Bonds, Greg Maddux, Randy Johnson, and others come to mind.
— Anthony J (@ajmennuti) December 5, 2022
I mean ARod though lol
— acKILLes (@acKILLesgaming) December 5, 2022
Might be, but won’t be for long. As next year Ohtani will be
— Giddyup (@Dave22686292) December 5, 2022
With a massive free market bet placed on himself, the outfielder defied all the odds and conquered the 2022 regular season. Undoubtedly, with 62 homers, a new AL record, the AL MVP, and the Hank Aaron award, he left the 2022 season with his head held high. And with the reduced burden of a contract that matched and topped the Yankees’ seven-year $213 million extension.
A statistical comparison between Aaron Judge and Alex Rodriguez:
A-Rod’s career came to a suitable end in 2016 with the slugger having smashed 696 home runs at 0.295 with 2026 runs batted in and an SLG of 0.550.
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What continues to be so great about A-Rod was his consistency and the fact that he repeated the same for 22 long seasons with three different franchises.
Aaron Judge, on the other hand, who’s now 30 years old, has already hit 220 home runs with 497 runs batted in at 0.284 and 0.583. However, given that he’s already 30, means that he has another ten years of baseball left in him, assuming his health and fitness allow it.
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Watch This Story – The Top-5 Most Electrifying Home Runs By New York Yankees Star Aaron Judge
Will Aaron Judge ever match Alex Rodriguez statistically? What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.