Aaron Judge reveals true thoughts on Yankees free agency: 'it was a blast'

Jul 26, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) reacts after a home run hit by shortstop Anthony Volpe (not seen) against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The New York Yankees were facing a major issue a few years ago with Aaron Judge. He had a chance to leave in free agency, and there seemed to be a decent chance of his departure.

Fortunately, he stayed in New York and will hopefully spend the rest of what should be a first-ballot Hall of Fame career all with the Yankees.

A few years removed from his free agency, Judge revealed his true thoughts to Kevin Durant during an appearance on The Boardroom. Judge shared that, while "it was a blast," free agency was still "stressful."

Aaron Judge shares real thoughts on free agency

"It was a blast," Judge said. "Vets always say, 'Wait till free agency - you'll love it. It's fun to have the freedom to go anywhere and talk to teams. But it was stressful. You lose the safety net. You go from knowing you're with the Yankees to being a free agent - it's all on you."

Judge's comments on his free agency are both very candid and understandable. Being a free agent gives a player a chance to feel valued by teams around the league.

And for a player like Judge, getting interest from the Yankees and other teams, most notably the San Francisco Giants, was, as he described it, "a blast."

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Of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing, as Judge was facing a dilemma where he was unsigned, and didn't have a fallback option in a team he was under contract with.

It's an interesting perspective, as a player like Judge surely would've found some landing spot in free agency. But the lack of security is real, and eagerly waiting to sign the new deal is surely a stressful time, as Judge noted.

Judge is carving out a legendary career, and he could've done so with a new team. But he came back to the Yankees in free agency.

While free agency might've been a bit stressful for Judge, at the end of the day, it was a "blast" for the Yankees superstar, as he got to visit with teams around baseball, and still ended up with a $360 million deal back with the Yankees.

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