Carlos Beltran walks back comment about Aaron Judge's 'new contract'

TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Beltran found one way to make sure no one would be talking about sign-stealing and the 2017 Astros.

Beltran, the newest analyst for the YES Network, created a mini-firestorm Monday afternoon while working his first broadcast. He mentioned the “new contract” Aaron Judge had agreed to with the Yankees, a deal that would keep the rightfielder in pinstripes for “so long” a time period past this season.

The problem?

There is no new contract.

Beltran quickly walked back his comments, explaining that he was simply expressing his “hope” that an extension can be reached.

Beltran said during the broadcast: "Aaron Judge, just such a guy that has so much power. And I’m just glad to see him being able to create this new contract with the New York Yankees and being able to extend his stay here in New York. He’s an incredible guy. He’s a leader in the clubhouse. He’s a guy that plays the game hard and I bet the message has to be like, from Judge, the Yankees are willing to commit like that for so long. And at the same time, they want to build around him. They understand he’s a leader, so I’m glad to see Aaron Judge increasing his stay here with the New York Yankees.”

 Judge, due to become a free agent after this season, has set Thursday's  opener as his deadline for an extension to be agreed upon. He repeatedly has said during spring training — and did so again Monday — that he doesn’t plan to talk extension into the regular season and that if one is not reached, he’ll play out the season on whatever one-year deal he and the Yankees end up with.

Judge was the lone member of the 12 Yankees who were arbitration-eligible not to come to terms with the club, and an arbitration hearing remains a possibility if a long-term deal is not reached. The Yankees filed at $17 million while Judge, who made just over $10 million last season, filed at $21 million. The sides  still could settle on a one-year deal somewhere between those two figures to avoid a hearing.

“Yeah, after Opening Day . . . like I said, I have a job to do,” Judge said of his deadline. “I have something to focus on [the regular season] and we’ll see them at the end of the year. And if it comes to that point, it is what it is.”

Judge, who went 3-for-4 with his fourth home run of spring training in Monday’s 5-2 victory over the Phillies to raise his Grapefruit League average to .414 and OPS to 1.416, smiled when asked about Beltran’s remarks.

“It's great,” he said. “Carlos, he's my man. So I think he was just looking out, trying to have my back a little bit there. I heard a little bit of the last couple of innings of Carlos in the booth, and I think he's a little nervous, but he's going to fit right in. The caliber of player he was, just the insight he's going to bring to the booth and this game is going to be huge. I'm glad he was pulling for me a little bit.”

General manager Brian Cashman, to whom Beltran placed an apologetic phone call  after the broadcast,  smiled when approached by reporters during the game. Though he did not appear to be bothered by the remarks, Cashman declined to comment on any aspect of the talks, including whether Judge and his representatives have an offer in front of them.

“I told you [the media] weeks ago that we will have all business concluded [by Opening Day],” Cashman said. “I repeat that’s either going to be an arbitration setting or it’s going to be a contract. I have nothing further to add to my comments from before.”  

Given the contracts some of the biggest stars in the sport have received in recent years, anything that doesn’t have an annual average value of at least $25 million — and probably a figure approaching or even slightly surpassing $30 million — likely isn’t going to get an extension done regardless of the years offered. And with Judge set to turn 30 on April 26 and already with a past that includes more than a few injuries, the Yankees don’t seem inclined to offer more than five years, six maximum.  

With Opening Day just a few days away, does Judge feel any anxiety about the situation? “Not at all,” he said. “I understand the business side of it. I still have to come here, do what I have to do on the field, and if we sign a deal, if we don’t, it’s not going to affect me at all.”