Rumor: Power-hitting outfield to visit the SF Giants this week

The hot stove is heating up! According to Jon Morosi of MLB.Com, New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge is officially in San Francisco to meet with the SF Giants front office this week.

Rumor: Power-hitting outfield to visit the SF Giants this week

Up until now, most of the offseason chatter revolved around how good of a fit Judge would be in San Francisco or someone from the Giants organization affirming the team's interest. However, a visit to San Francisco is a new and exciting development.

If it were up to me, I would give him a blank check and let him fill out whatever number he desires. That said, it is probably a good thing that I am not in charge.

The 30-year-old outfielder has had an eventful week as he took home the AL MVP award in a near-unanimous decision. Judge is coming off of a historic season in which he slashed .311/.425/.686 (211 OPS+) with 62 home runs, 131 RBI, and 133 runs in 696 plate appearances.

He set an American League record in home runs (62) in addition to leading baseball in RBI (131), runs (133), walks (111), and OPS (1.111). The Yankees finished in first place in the AL East with a 99-63 record but they got swept by the Houston Astros in the championship series.

The Giants will face some stiff competition for Judge this winter as both the Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers are poised to land the power-hitting outfielder. Of course, the Texas Rangers and the Seattle Mariners cannot be counted out as well.

Judge is looking to land a massive payday in free agency and deservedly so. The Yankees offered him a seven-year, $213 million extension last offseason and he turned it down. He bet on himself and that is a bet that is going to pay off handsomely as he should land a deal in excess of $300 million.

The Giants have more financial flexibility than just about any big-market club in baseball. However, the Competitive Balance Tax (CBT) threshold likely does not carry a lot of weight when it comes to a player of Judge's caliber.

The good news is that Judge is in San Francisco and the front office is poised to make its pitch. He should stay awhile.