2022 was a season of a lifetime for both the Philadelphia Phillies and Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge.
The Phillies went on a miracle run to the World Series, and the team has recaptured the hearts of Philadelphia. The team won the National League even after finishing with just 87 wins during the regular season. The club went to the big dance, but there is still room for improvement.
The Court is in Session
Aaron Judge will win the American League MVP this season. He helped carry the Yankees to a 99-win season and the American League East title and was the best player in baseball this season. Naturally, teams will be lining up in free agency to try and sign him to a long-term deal.
Aaron’s 2022 season was one for the record books. Most notably, Judge hit 62 home runs this season, setting the record for the most in a single season for the American League. Aaron passed Yankee legend Roger Maris, who hit 61 in 1961.
Judge was an All-Star, Silver Slugger winner, Hank Aaron award winner, and the soon-to-be MVP. The awards keep coming for Aaron, and they are all well-earned.
Judge’s stat line for the year included: a .311 batting average, 1.111 on-base percentage + slugging, 131 runs batted in, and 133 runs scored. He proved that he was one of the best players in Major League Baseball and deserves the contract he desired.
This is where the Phillies come into play.
The Judge’s Ruling
The Phillies already have too many outfielders on their roster. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos, Brandon Marsh, and Matt Vierling make up the Phillies outfield.
Currently, the Phillies outfield will consist of Kyle Schwarber in left, Brandon Marsh in center, and Bryce Harper in right, with Nick Castellanos as the designated hitter.
Bryce Harper will return to right field next season. Harper will most likely need surgery for his UCL injury that kept him out of the outfield for most of 2022. With Bryce penciled in to play right field, Aaron Judge’s position, many people automatically assumed that Aaron would have no place to play on the Phillies.
For those who don’t know, Aaron Judge has some experience playing center field. While a 6′ 7″ slugging centerfielder certainly doesn’t fit the mold, Aaron is the exception. He played 78 games in centerfield for the Yankees this past season, more than any other position.
His rocket arm would make up for the lack of speed he possesses in the outfield, but it’s the bat you are signing with Judge, not his defense.
The Phillies’ defense would take a step back if Aaron had to play centerfield for this team. Especially as he ages, his role will certainly relegate to a DH in the coming years.
What are the Odds of the Phillies landing Aaron Judge?
Las Vegas has the Phillies at +1000 odds to land Aaron Judge in free agency. The chances of the Fightins even approaching Judge for a deal are low, but the potential of having Harper and Judge in the same lineup is salivating.
The Phillies cannot leave any stone unturned this off-season. Dave Dombrowski has proven he knows how to build a winning team and will certainly be going after the big names of this free-agent class.
As the Phillies look to make it back to the World Series, adding the reigning MVP of the American League could be a fantastic move, even if the logistics don’t line up.
While it is more fantasy than reality, until Aaron Judge signs the dotted line, there will always be a chance he could be a Phillie.
Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire
