Aaron Judge returning to Yankees on 9-year, $360 million deal

(AP Photo/Adam Hunger)

After deciding to bet on himself last season, Aaron Judge is now a very wealthy man.

The slugger decided to return to the Yankees Wednesday after agreeing to a 9-year, $360 million contract.

Judge started slow last season, but then exploded in late spring – flirting with the Triple Crown, and ending with an AL record 62 home runs. On the season, Judge hit .311 with 133 runs and 131 RBIs, good enough to be named AL MVP.

His deal trails only Mike Trout and Mookie Betts in total value, but both those deals are for 12 years. Mets pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander are the only players to top Judge’s annual average of $40 million per year.