MLB Rumors: Red Sox-Yankees rivalry need Aaron Judge to Boston

The most historic rivalry in sports history could get a major boost in hype if the Boston Red Sox went big and signed the top free agent in 2022 away from the New York Yankees.  Imagine what for one second the drama Aaron Judge would ignite if he switched sides in this classic rivalry?

Not only would such a splurge win some points for Red Sox Chief Baseball officer Chaim Bloom, but it would also spark a rivalry that has been missing some spark.  While Bloom and company should be more focused on taking care of their own top players like Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers, landing Judge would be huge.

At the age of 30, Judge destroyed the league last season batting .311 with 62 homers and 131 RBIs.  That size and big bat would be very exciting in the Red Sox lineup in a park like Fenway where he should and could put up those types of numbers for years to come, but is it right for Boston?

Furthermore, would he use the Red Sox as a pawn to land the contract he wants from the Yankees, a team that offered him a seven-year, $213.5 million extension prior to the season.

Boston Red Sox will need to go very big for a power bat like Aaron Judge

If he turned that down prior to a historic season at the plate, imagine what other teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and New York Mets will offer the slugger.  There’s a lot of teams to compete with and some big money to rival, but the Boston Red Sox should be a team in the mix or at the very least a major player in the bidding war just to stick it to the Yankees.

In accessing Judge’s options during this MLB Hot Stove period, MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand explored the potential suitors of the Yankees slugger putting on that rival baseball cap with the “B”:

"“On second thought, this might be the juiciest option. Judge defecting from New York to Boston would instantly make him the biggest figure in this rivalry since some guy named Ruth. Boston had a disappointing 2022 season, and while the Red Sox have a significant amount of money coming off the books this winter, they are more likely to shell out a nine-figure extension to Rafael Devers than to pay Judge. For what it’s worth, Judge didn’t dismiss the idea when asked about it last month, telling reporters, “We’ll talk about that at the end of the year.” Hey Aaron, it’s the end of the year.”"

Yes, juicy indeed.  As far as an either/or option for the Red Sox, why couldn’t they score a power bat like Judge to pair with Rafael Devers?  It may come at the benefit of losing Bogaerts, but Judge to Boston would send ripples throughout Major League Baseball and would top any of the Red Sox top free agents in the past who have rattled Red Sox Nation by signing with the enemy.

This would be payback for Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens and Jacoby Ellsbury.  Just to be petty, we’ll throw Johnny Damon and Andrew Benintendi in there as well.  But, in all, Feinsand is right that this would be the type of splash the Red Sox need to put themselves back on the map as a big spender.

Yes, Bloom, building the farms system has been wonderful, but a big market team like Boston usually shake up the league with a move just like this.  The Red Sox-Yankees rivalry need this, baseball needs this, the fans need it and an ownership team that has lost connection with its fanbase need it.