The Yankees and contract-year decisions

Aaron Judge’s 2022 would have been incredible under any circumstance, but there’s no denying that the intrigue was multiplied by the fact that it also doubled as one of the greatest “walk” seasons (in contract terms) in sports history. It’s not just a monumental season on its own terms — it’s forced the Yankees to make a decision that will shape the direction of the team, and the league as a whole, for years to come.

It’s not necessarily the kind of decision that the Yankees are used to making. Before Brian Cashman assumed greater control of baseball operations in 2006, George Steinbrenner was liable to “audible” on just about any contract for any player, and often did. Even since then, it’s…