Is the 2023 offseason the one where the Farhan Zaidi-led Giants finally make a splash?
MLB newsbreaker Jon Heyman believes that’s a possibility, reporting on Thursday that San Francisco is seen as a potential free agency destination for Yankees slugger Aaron Judge this winter.
“The Giants are seen as another potential landing spot for Aaron Judge, who grew up a Giants fan,” Heyman writes. “Though they specialize in bargains, they did make a spirited attempt for Bryce Harper, finishing second to Philadelphia.”
SF landing Judge — who is scheduled to hit free agency this offseason — would be a bit of a homecoming for the 30-year-old slugger, who grew up in Linden and attended Fresno State University.
The Giants under Zaidi have yet to make this type of signing, but they’ll have the money to do so. San Francisco is projected to enter the offseason with just over $100 million in payroll, putting them well below the projected competitive balance tax of $233 million. Judge’s market value is projected to be in the neighborhood of $26.3 million per year.
Judge is a three-time All-Star (2017, 2018, 2021), and slashed .287/.373/.544 last season with 39 homers. Judge has never posted an OPS below .891 in his five full seasons in the big leagues.