Dodgers Rumors: Aaron Judge Being Targeted By Los Angeles? Yankees Free Agent Linked To LA

The Los Angeles Dodgers always seem to be contenders to sign the best available free agents, consistently spending more money than any team in Major League Baseball. The case could be the same after the 2022 World Series when Aaron Judge hits the open market.

The Dodgers could become serious players in pursuit of Judge, MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports. After setting the American League record with 62 home runs in a season, Judge could command a record salary in free agency.

The New York Yankees and Judge were unable to agree on a long-term contract extension prior to Opening Day. Judge rejected a seven-year, $213.5 million extension that would've started in the 2023 season. Following his historic season, Judge's price tag has seemingly gone up.

The Yankees might be the favorites to re-sign Judge, but they could be outbid by a team looking to make a splash in free agency. The Dodgers are potentially in a position to make Judge his highest offer.

Los Angeles' payroll could be cut by close to $100 million if the organization fails to re-sign its own free agents. Letting Trea Turner or Justin Turner walk might allow the Dodgers to give Judge an offer that he's forced to consider.

Dodgers' right fielder Mookie Betts would be open to playing the infield at some point, Feinsand reports. Betts has played 30 games at second base in his major-league career.

With Betts already in right field, the Dodgers could choose to spend their money elsewhere. Los Angeles could ink Turner to a long-term deal or pursue Carlos Correa, who is one of the best available shortstops for the second straight year. New York Mets pitchers Jacob deGrom and Edwin Diaz will also be among the top players in free agency.

Los Angeles signed Freddie Freeman to a six-year, $162 million contract last offseason. It's the biggest free-agent contract that the Dodgers have handed out in recent years. The Dodgers did sign Betts to a 12-year, $365 million extension, but that came after the team acquired him in a trade with the Boston Red Sox.

It might take an average annual salary of at least $40 million or a contract worth at least $350 million to land Judge. Freeman's $27 million salary was the highest for any Dodgers player in 2022.

The San Francisco Giants have been viewed as the biggest threat to lure Judge away from the Yankees. The New York Mets could potentially be lurking as a suitor for the Yankees' best player.

The Dodgers' best season in franchise history came to a disappointing conclusion. After winning 111 games in the regular season, Los Angeles was eliminated by the San Diego Padres in four games in the NLDS.

Adding Judge to the league's top offense would be one way to improve the Dodgers' chances of avoiding another postseason upset in 2023.