New York Yankees Captain Aaron Judge Scores the Easiest $10,000 of His Life With This Simple MLB Task

Over time, Major League Baseball has implemented several alterations to make the sport more commercially viable and enhance the fan experience. As a result, in the 2017 All-Star game, Fox initiated in-game interviews by miking up players during the proceedings of the game. And through one of these interviews, New York Yankees star Aaron Judge once made the easiest $10,000 of his MLB career.

Eight years after Derek Jeter’s retirement, the New York Yankees’ ownership finally appointed outfielder Aaron Judge as their leader, after signing a $360 million deal worth nine years with the 2022 American League MVP. Naturally, the massive Yankees fanbase loves their captain and would be eager to listen to a candid conversation in the middle of the game featuring him.

The easiest $10,000 Aaron Judge has ever made

Back in 2017, when this addition to the game was just implemented, players were hesitant and feared that these interviews could affect their performance on the field. As a result, MLB started to reward these in-game interviews.

As of 2023, according to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, the players get paid $1,000 per minute, and since these segments are about ten minutes long, Judge made $10,000 in his previous in-game interview.

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Notably, it’s not the broadcasting houses like ESPN, Fox, and TBS that fund these interviews. As per Marchand, these funds are derived from a shared pool of money between Major League Baseball and the players’ association.

If the Pinstripes captain hadn’t placed a bet on himself, how much would his Yankees contract be worth?

Making his debut in 2016, Judge was set to enter free agency at the conclusion of the 2022 season. Before the commencement of 2022, the Pinstripes General Manager Brian Cashman offered the outfielder a $230 million contract for eight years. However, Judge thought he was worth more, and asked for a lengthier contract going up to at least $300 million. The Yanks’ front office didn’t budge, and Judge entered the 2022 season with a massive bet on himself.

As is evident now, the bet paid off, and Judge smashed 62 homers, won the AL MVP award, and bagged a $360 million contract for nine years with the Yankees.

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What do you think about Aaron Judge’s massive bet on himself that contributed to a $130 million increase in his contract? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!