Yankees To Sign First-Rounder Judge

THURSDAY: The Yankees reached an agreement with Judge on a slightly over-slot $1.8MM signing bonus, writes George A. King III of the New York Post.  Judge is advised by PSI Sports Management.

WEDNESDAY: The Yankees are close to a deal with slugging Fresno State outfielder Aaron Judge, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.  The Yankees selected Judge with the No. 32 overall pick in the draft.

The Yankees offered Judge the slot amount of about $1.6MM weeks ago and have been waiting to get something done. The 6-foot-7, 255-pound slugger has big power potential and has earned physical comparisons to the NBA's Blake Griffin, according to Baseball America.  BA had him ranked as the 30th best prospect in the draft while Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com had him ranked at No. 24, and ESPN.com's Keith Law put him at No. 17.

The Yankees have already signed thieir other first round picks – Notre Dame third baseman Eric Jagielo and San Diego prep lefty Ian Clarkin – to slot deals.  Judge's No. 32 selection is the pick the Yankees received for losing Nick Swisher in free agency.