Aaron Judge knew these questions were coming.
The New York Yankees captain took a break from batting practice, outfield drills, and signing autographs to address the media for the first time since making his way to Tampa for spring training. He sat down for his opening press conference during the club’s first full-squad workout on Monday, and it was only a matter of time before he got asked about his now-former teammate, Juan Soto.
“Excited for him and his new chapter with the Mets,” he said of the 26-year-old superstar.
“But we added a lot of new pieces here,” he continued, alluding to outfielder Cody Bellinger, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, lefty starter Max Fried, and more. “You can’t replace a guy like Juan Soto but you bring in guys like this that are All-Star, MVP caliber players.”
Judge and Soto patrolled the Yankee Stadium outfield for just one season, but they made their mark as one of the most formidable one-two punches in the history of the sport. The duo combined for 99 home runs and 253 RBI in 2024, all while propelling the club to its first World Series appearance since the Derek Jeter era.
Judge took home his second American League MVP award in 2024, while Soto finished third in the voting behind Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals.
Thus, it came as a surprise to the Yankee faithful when Judge explained in November that he had not spoken to Soto during his free agency process; he noted that “I think the best thing is to really give those guys space.”
His position drew criticism from analysts and fans alike, given his role as the locker room leader and one of the most influential voices in the game today.
However, Judge told reporters on Monday that he actually did try to reach out to Soto but he had changed his number. He said that the pair have since caught up without disclosing any of the details.
For Soto, the grass was greener at Citi Field. In his introductory press conference with the Mets, the lefty slugger praised the Queens club for giving him the best opportunity to win for years to come, emphasizing his goal of building a dynasty with the franchise.
Judge noted that while he wasn’t shocked by Soto’s comments, he fundamentally disagreed with the belief that the Mets are better positioned to win championships.
“That’s his opinion,” Judge said, adamant that the Yankees are still a winning ballclub. “He can say what he wants, I definitely disagree with it. I wasn’t too surprised by it, I think that’s where he wanted to be.”
With Opening Day right around the corner, all rails are leading to the Subway Series. The Mets and Yankees will meet for the first time at Yankee Stadium on May 16, where the once-great teammates will stand across from each other as the faces of their respective New York franchises. Time will tell whose squad is best.
