The topic of value shadowed Aaron Judge all season. In April, the Yankees placed a value on his long-term future with the team: $213.5 million over seven years. In October, Judge placed a value on the American League’s single-season home run record: He was going for it, every day, even after the Yankees clinched the A.L. East.
Judge declined the contract offer, and his big bet will soon pay off in free agency. He broke the record, and his performance stamped him on Thursday as the winner of the Most Valuable Player Award in the A.L.
Judge received 28 of 30 first-place votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, which has awarded the M.