New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, who on Thursday was named the unanimous American League MVP, told reporters during a Friday conference call that he has been giving Juan Soto, the top free agent on the market whom the Yankees hope to sign to a long-term contract, plenty of space.

Fresh off his second MVP award, Yankees' captain knows how much free-agent slugger means to team's World Series chances.

Aaron Judge said he hasn’t spoken to Juan Soto since the New York Yankees lost in the World Series in late October, but he’s come up in conversation with owner Hal Steinbrenner. “He knows how we feel about him,” Judge said.