New York Yankees and Mets ‘are being investigated by MLB’ over Aaron Judge talks

Major League Baseball is investigating whether the Yankees and the Mets violated the sport’s collective bargaining agreement in discussions over superstar slugger Aaron Judge, it has been reported.

The future of the Yankees superstar is the talk of the league, with the 30-year-old currently in free agency and assessing his options in the offseason, following a record-breaking year in which he hit 62 regular-season home runs.

While the Yankees are desperate to keep hold of him, many other teams have been sniffing around – including local rivals the New York Mets, if reports are to be believed.

Aaron Judge is facing an uncertain future as he decides where he will play next season

Hal Steinbrenner is being investigated by MLB over allegations he broke CBA rules

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reported on Wednesday that Major League Baseball are now investigating whether the two teams’ owners – Hal Steinbrenner and Steve Cohen of the Yankees and Mets respectively – had improper communication about Judge.

The claims come following an article published on the SNY website – an arm of the Mets’ TV network – in which it was claimed the Queens team would not enter a bidding war with the Yankees over the player.

It has been reported that details in the story then caught the attention of the Players Association, which asked the Commissioner’s Office to investigate any potential wrongdoing.

For the Yankees or Mets to be found guilty of a violation, it would have to be proven that the market for Judge was damaged by the conversations.

Reports claimed that Steve Cohen (pictured) had decided not to fight the Yankees for Judge

The Yankees slugger, 30, had an amazing year at the plate and hit 62 regular season home runs

MLB rules specifically state that information on player contracts cannot be shared between teams, with a recent CBA noting: ‘Players shall not act in concert with other Players and Clubs shall not act in concert with other Clubs.’

Officials from MLB and the Players Association, as well as representatives from the Mets and the Yankees, did not immediately respond to a request from comment by The Athletic.

Judge is currently in the process of deciding his next move, with a higher offer expected from the Yankees, as well as propositions from other teams.

Last winter, Judge turned down a $213.5million, seven-year offer from the Bronx Bombers, and it is expected he will command a figure closer to $300m after his exceptional season.