The future of Aaron Judge is still up in the air, as the former New York Yankees star remains a free agent after winning the MVP award.
It was a historic year for Judge as he broke the American league record for single home-runs in a season (62) surpassing one Roger Maris who hit 61 in 1961. Judge was awarded the MVP honour at the end of the season, but snubbed a contract renewal from the Yankees.
Judge is expected to sign the biggest MLB contract of all-time, and there is no shortage of teams interested in signing him. His situation is freakishly similar to the great Barry Bonds who joined the San Francisco Giants back in 1993, and Judge could potentially follow his path.
Bonds is considered to be one of the greatest baseball players of all-time, but due to some controversies he is yet to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Judge may have been the star of the 2022 season, but 30 years ago Bonds had an almost identical year.
The former Pittsburgh Pirates star won the MVP award in 1992, but lost the League Championship series. Judge also picked up the award, and lost at the exact same stage with the Yankees this past season.
Bonds also hit at a rate of .311 in 1992, which is bizarrely the exact same average as Judge managed in his record-breaking season. Bonds moved to the Giants for the 1993 season as he wanted to head back to his hometown, and Judge is also from California.
The Giants have always been a potential destination for Judge due to his links to California, and with his status still unresolved, some fans are starting to believe it may happen. And those playing for other San Francisco teams such as the 49ers and Golden State Warriors have even tried convincing him to move.
NBA star Stephen Curry has been joined by members of the 49ers NFL roster as they look to bring Judge to San Francisco. Judge has recently visited the Giants, with the organisation said to be 'elated' with their meeting.
49ers stars Drake Jackson, Willie Snead IV, Talanoa Hufanga and Marcelino McCrary Ball have sent messages to Judge from the locker-room asking him to make the move. "Aaron Judge, you need to come home bro," said Jackson.
"It's beautiful out here, wherever you are right now, I bet it's not like this," he added. "If you sign for the Giants, those are three potential championship winning teams right here in San Francisco," Snead IV teased to Judge.
The Warriors are the reigning NBA champions, and the 49ers are certainly in and around the conversation when it comes to the NFL post-season as they pose a record of 8-4. After losing the Super Bowl in the fourth quarter back in 2020, Kyle Shanahan has been keen to get them back to the biggest American football game of them all, but a season-ending injury to Jimmy Garoppolo hasn't helped their chances.
