Aaron Judge has been one of the brightest spots on the Yankees’ roster as the team made a run to the World Series in 2024. But there’s an alternate reality where he never signed that nine-year, $360 million deal to stay in New York. It sounds wild to say a $360 million contract is a bargain, but he has been that good.
Almost three years ago, though, a reported trade between the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees was almost a done deal. No exact details were given, but it led many to speculate that a Judge-for-Shohei Ohtani deal was possible.
When Aaron Judge Was Nearly Traded to the Angels
In 2025, a Judge for Ohtani trade would be one of the biggest, if not the biggest, in professional sports history.
The NBA world saw a bombshell deal as the Dallas Mavericks traded Luka Dončić to the Lakers. It’s tough to say whether a Judge-Ohtani deal in 2022 would’ve matched that shock factor, but it’s hard to rule it out.
According to MLB Network reporter Harold Reynolds, the deal was in discussions ahead of the 2022 season.
Harold Reynolds on MLB Tonight just said that there were talks of a Yankees/Angels trade for Aaron Judge before the season started 🤔
— Justin Ayers Baseball (@J_A_Baseball) September 22, 2022
Back in 2022, Judge hit .311 and Ohtani batted .273. Ohtani also pitched that season, something he hasn’t done since joining the Los Angeles Dodgers. That dual-threat ability gives Ohtani unmatched value, but if there’s one hitter in the league who comes close, it’s Judge.
If Judge had landed in Anaheim, Calif., who knows how the Yankees’ 2024 season would’ve played out? A Judge–Mike Trout pairing would’ve been must-watch TV — depending, of course, on Trout staying healthy. The Angels could’ve made a run at Judge in free agency, too. After all, Trout’s deal is worth $426.5 million over 12 years.
However, not everyone believed that the deal was on the table. There was plenty of pushback from fans who thought it was fake news.
“If this is real, which it’s not, Ohtani would’ve had to have been the return. Only possible way that trade happens,” said one user on X.
If this is real, which it’s not, Ohtani would’ve had to have been the return. Only possible way that trade happens. https://t.co/liC6HPnnl3
— Matt (@HoodieGleyber) September 23, 2022
For Judge, remaining a Yankee was the best thing for him. It’s crazy to look back on this alleged trade three years later, seeing as it was reported as being a “done deal.”
The exact specifics of the trade were never announced, which leaves plenty of room to speculate. In 2025, Judge is still hitting nearly .400 and is breaking records left and right.
But giving further credence to the rumors and reports, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported there were “light flirtations” of a Judge-to-L.A. deal during the 2020-21 offseason.
Currently, the Yankees are 35-20, first place in the AL East, having won nine of their last 10 games. The Angels find themselves 25-30, an even .500 in their last 10, 5.5 games back of the Seattle Mariners atop the AL West.