Aaron Judge focused on Yankees winning World Series, not on contract

LOS ANGELES — Asked about his career goals during Monday’s media availability in advance of Tuesday night’s All-Star Game, Aaron Judge didn’t think for long before answering.

“I want to be a World Series champion,” said Judge, making his fifth All-Star appearance. “Not only once but twice, three times. As many times as I can.”

And Judge, 30, said that is the most significant reason he’s been able to keep his contract situation from being a distraction this season.

“That’s what it’s all about,” Judge, who is due to become a free agent after the season, said of winning. “I feel like that last couple of years, we’ve had some good teams, but we’ve never been able to really put it all together as a team and be that dominant force that the New York Yankees are. I think this team that we have now, with some of the trades we’ve made, the acquisitions we’ve made, the guys we’ve called up, I think we’re in a good position. We’ve set ourselves up for a deep run in October. And that’s what it’s all about.”

The Yankees came into the break a major league-best 64-28, giving them a 13-game lead over the second-place Rays in the AL East, baseball’s toughest division (all five of its teams are at .500 or better).

Judge, joined here by All-Star teammates Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Clay Holmes, Jose Trevino and Nestor Cortes, is among the most significant reasons for that record. The outfielder, who turned down the Yankees’ eight-year extension offer for a tick over $230 million just before the regular season, came into the break hitting .284 with 70 RBIs, a .983 OPS and an MLB-leading 33 homers (which tied Roger Maris’ 1961 record for most homers hit by a Yankee before the All-Star break).

To this point, it’s been the classic case of a player betting on himself going into free agency and, to this point, winning big.

“I’m excited we’re in first place. That’s the most important thing, especially playing in New York. It’s all about winning,” Judge said of feeling “vindicated” with his first half after turning down the Yankees (who avoided arbitration with Judge when the sides settled in June on a $19 million salary for 2022).

“All the contract stuff, negotiating, arbitration stuff, all that stuff always gets handled. For me, helping my team to be in first place, have the best record in baseball at the halfway point, that’s what it’s all about. I think in New York and Yankee fans can agree, it’s all about the ring. If we can keep working hard and win a ring, that’ll be sweeter, and all that contract stuff will be figured out.”

Behind the scenes, Judge never was particularly thrilled that the Yankees were so public in disclosing their offer to him. He said the possibility of a poor season and/or injury costing him tens of millions of dollars never crossed his mind.

“I don’t live in fear,” he said. “The money has never been the reason I play this game. This is a gift that I have, and I try to go out there and have fun and use this gift to the best of my ability. Everything else will take care of itself. That’s why I have agents, that’s why I have family, to support me and help me make the right decisions. Ultimately all that stuff will get taken care of, if it’s in New York or it’s not in New York.”

Indeed, while Judge has stated many times over the years that his desire is to remain “a Yankee for life,” he is not fearful of exploring the market, either.

“For me, it’s never been about the money,” he said. “I want to play for the Yankees, I want to be here for a long time. If it works out, it works out. But if it doesn’t, it doesn’t. It’s out of my hands. I can’t really control that kind of stuff. For me, it’s been about focusing on the game and playing the game. I’m a free agent and [deciding] where we go, we’ll figure all that out later.”