
via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees runs to the dugout after the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

via Getty
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees runs to the dugout after the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in game four of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 23, 2022 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
When one thinks of the New York Yankees, one name that immediately comes to everyone’s mind is Aaron Judge – the 16th Yankee captain who has been crushing home runs left and right signed a 9-year $360 million deal this year after he became a free agent. It is common knowledge that the San Francisco Giants were pursuing the slugger, but what many fans don’t know is that Judge and several other big-name Yankee players were nearly traded to the Atlanta Braves back in 2017. Yes, you read that right! Aaron Judge could’ve been snatched away from the Bronx Bombers and traded to the Braves.
According to a recent revelation by an ESPN baseball columnist, Jeff Passan, this potential MLB trade would have shaken the foundations of Yankee fandom to their very core, and not far off the surfaced news has sent several Yankee fans into a frenzy.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
The ground was snatched from under the New York Yankees fans’ feet
Imagine a baseball landscape where Aaron Judge isn’t wearing pinstripes but has instead donned Atlanta Braves red and blue. Impossible, right? Well, that could’ve been a possibility, according to a recent podcast with Jeff Passan.
READ MORE: New York Yankees Fans Dub Daffy Duck “Public Enemy #1” After Hilarious Aaron Judge Confession
Just think about it – what if the deal had gone through? What if Judge was hitting home runs for another team, and the Yankees now were left searching for a new captain? It’s enough to make any diehard fan break out in a cold sweat.
If Cashman did that…
— Jakob Kramer (@KrispyKram44) March 5, 2023
This is unbelievable
— Gabe (@PlayoffTanaka_) March 5, 2023
NOOOOO
— jon™️ (@nyyenjoyer) March 5, 2023
EXCUSE ME WHATTTTTT
— Johan (@Johan_Boss01) March 5, 2023
FOR WHO!?!?!? FOR WHO JEFFREY!?!?!?
— Mikey Mele #LFGM (@Mikey_Mele15) March 5, 2023
Damn Jeff pic.twitter.com/cg7mj8T5Lp
— Steveo🇵🇷🇩🇴🗽 (@StevenRHLM_) March 5, 2023
What in the…
— Patman (@JonathonVillar) March 5, 2023
BUT FOR WHO
— will not get suspended again x5 🙏 (@extendnico) March 5, 2023
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Fans were left to ponder the “what ifs” and the possibilities of a future where the team’s captain is not Judge but instead someone else entirely.
Who were the other players involved in the trade discussions?
This unprecedented trade between the New York Yankees and Atlanta Braves that could have rewritten the current baseball landscape involved some big names on both sides. According to the reporter, the proposed deal would have sent Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Gary Sanchez, Manny Banuelos, and Ian Clarkin to Atlanta in exchange for Jason Heyward, Andrelton Simmons, B.J. Upton, Chris Johnson, and David Carpenter.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
It’s hard to imagine the Yankees without the now captain and the blazing fastball of the pitcher Severino. And while a few of the Atlanta players would’ve made a good addition to the Bronx Bombers, it’s clear that the Yankees made the right decision by holding on to their cornerstone players. The fans also breathed a sigh of relief.
WATCH THIS STORY: Ranking the New York Yankees Biggest Rivals of All Time
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT