The New York Yankees are leaving no stone unturned in their quest for Yoshinobu Yamamoto. From flying to Los Angeles for a meeting to praising him in nearly every press conference, the Pinstripes seem all in on the Yamamoto hype train. Yet their competition is not far behind, with the Mets’ owner having dinner with the Japanese ace. The Los Angeles Dodgers decided to use their trump card Shohei Ohtani in their meeting. Now it looks like the Bronx Bombers are ready to bring out the big guns as well – Aaron Judge.

It has been a common practice for teams to use star players to attract top targets. Yet this time it feels a little different. With the sweepstakes getting rather delicious, how will the captain’s entry affect this saga?

Aaron Judge to join the Yankees’ meeting with Yamamoto

When the news spread that Shohei Ohtani had sat in the Dodgers’ meeting with Yamamoto, everyone wondered if the Yankees would do the same. The Bronx Bombers are no short of big stars that they can use for these purposes. As it stands, everyone’s thoughts have turned to reality as Kris Pursiaine has reported that the Yankees captain Aaron Judge is, in fact, joining the Yamamoto – Pinstripes meeting.

The captain, everything that the Yankees have ever stood for, could be a major influence on a player who has previously stated his desire to wear pinstripes. A heavy-hitting superstar who is always eager to climb to the summit, Judge can show Yamamoto the kind of stardom that the Yankees can provide him.

At the same time, though, it cannot be denied that a hitter can only affect a pitcher so much. Perhaps the Yankees too have noticed this issue and this is why they’re also considering bringing in legend CC Sabathia to the mix. The Bombers could be hoping for the veteran to find a connection with Yamamoto and show him how legends get made in the Bronx.

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At the end of the day though, all that matters is what is Yamamoto’s preference. Reports have already stated that he has gotten multiple $300 million plus offers, in a rare instance when several big-name teams are chasing after a player. What if his sweepstakes climb an even higher price point? Are the Yankees willing to touch that level?

Read more: Despite Missing 60 Games Aaron Judge’s All-MLB Team Selection Proves His Staggering Skill