Aaron Judge’s contract year is one of the defining story lines of this season, and last night, he made his latest case for why the Yankees should pay him whatever the heck he wants to spend the rest of his career in pinstripes.
With two on, two out and the game tied in the bottom of the ninth inning against the Astros, Judge ripped a single into the left field corner to drive in the winning run. It was his second walk-off hit of the season—he also crushed a three-run homer to beat the Blue Jays on May 10—and New York’s ninth walk-off win.
Adding to the narrative, of course, was that Judge’s arbitration hearing with the Yankees was scheduled for today at noon ET. The dispute was over how much money the team will pay him this season. New York offered $17 million; Judge asked for $21 million. This hearing would have taken place during the offseason if not for the MLB lockout, so the arbitrator would not have been permitted to consider anything Judge has done this season in deciding the case.
