Aaron Judge often has personal conversations with his New York Yankees teammates—not just about baseball, but about family life and contract decisions. That included a private effort to keep Juan Soto in pinstripes before the Dominican star ultimately chose to move on.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Judge opened up about that effort, saying: “I tried to do my part, but for the most part let him make his decision.” Judge acknowledged that the final call was always going to be Soto’s to make.
He went on to explain why he didn’t push too hard, saying, “Because a couple words that I say aren’t going to make a big decision for what you think is best for you & your family.”
Early contact wasn’t easy
According to New York Post reporter Greg Joyce, Judge’s first attempt to get in touch with Soto didn’t go smoothly. Judge said he received a text from an unfamiliar number claiming to be Soto, but wasn’t sure it was legit. He ended up messaging Soto on social media to confirm it was really him.
Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees celebrates with Juan Soto #22 after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on August 20, 2024 in New York City.
Judge also mentioned trying to reach out again during the winter, but that effort stalled as well. By then, Soto had already changed his number—reportedly to avoid distractions while negotiating his future.
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Soto wasn’t the only departure
While Soto’s exit from the Yankees drew the most attention, he wasn’t the only key player to leave. Other notable names like Alex Verdugo, Anthony Rizzo, and Nestor Cortes also departed, leaving gaps the club has been working to fill. The Yankees have leaned on internal depth and recent acquisitions to reshape the roster.
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