The New York Yankees may have suffered a devastating season-ending loss to the Toronto Blue Jays—but team captain Aaron Judge‘s fight to be named the American League’s MVP remains alive and well, thanks to his rousing performance in the playoff battle.
Judge, 33, from California, was one of just a few bright spots in the Yankees’ embarrassing defeat, helping to lead the team to a Game 3 victory with a three-run home run, according to ESPN, proving himself more than worthy of his $360 million contract, at least in the eyes of many fans.
The MLB legend, who was named as the American League MVP in 2024, signed the blockbuster deal with the team in 2022—committing to another nine years with the Yankees, to the tune of about $40 million a year.
Not long after the ink had dried on that contract, Judge, who welcomed his first child, daughter Nora Rose, with wife Samantha in January, celebrated by snapping up a new property in Tampa Bay, FL, where he has been building an extraordinary custom megmansion for his family.
However, his dream of creating a sanctuary in the Sunshine State hit a significant hurdle, when he and his spouse filed a lawsuit against interior designer Amanda Drew of Drew Designs LLC, claiming that she had swindled them out of $750,000 through hidden charges on bills for renovations to both the Tampa property and their New York City apartment.
The lawsuit, which was filed with the Hillsborough County Circuit Court on Jan. 28, notes that signing the contract with the Yankees was the fulfillment of a “lifelong dream” for Judge, who was “eager to establish a family home” in the wake of such a milestone occasion.
It then states that Drew—who has vehemently denied the allegations—”offered to assist the Judges” in “designing renovations and selecting furnishings for a new home in Tampa, where they planned to raise a family.”
Claiming that she “presented herself as a trusted resource,” the filing notes that Drew was also enlisted to help the Judges with “furnishing a new apartment in New York City, where they would spend much of the year,” which seems to refer to the extravagant Chelsea dwelling the couple purchased in 2023.
While it’s unclear exactly how much the Judges paid for the unit, which is located inside a luxurious condo building, two 22nd-floor units sold for a combined $40 million in the same year that the Yankees star was reported to have snapped up his property.
The Judges allege that Drew offered them “special ‘cut-and-dry’ pricing that she typically did not extend to others, but was willing to provide because they had become ‘friends.'”
“She persuaded the Judges to choose her company over other more established designers in New York and Tampa by making specific representations, including that for the Tampa home, she would ‘loop everything into one charge’ at $10 per square foot and would not charge any additional ‘% over contractor cost,'” the suit goes on.
Drew is also alleged to have told Judge and his wife that any furniture purchased for both properties would be charged to them at the retail purchase price “with no additional markup.”
However, the Judges claim that this was not the case—accusing Drew of upcharging them on multiple costs, including a $33,000 couch, which they say could be purchased for as little as $18,100.
The couple said that they were unaware of the full amount they were overcharged, because Drew had refused to provide them with receipts from her purchases, but that they estimate the sum to be around $750,000.
They accused Drew of taking advantage of their busy schedules, alleging that she assumed they would be “too busy to notice” the additional charges.
As of May, the Tampa Bay Business Journal stated that 60 subpoenas had been issued to vendors and contractors who were involved in the renovation process.
Drew filed a countersuit against the Judges in March, accusing the couple of wrongful termination and claiming that they had refused to pay outstanding bills for work that she had already completed.
While both of the lawsuits are still understood to be in progress, the Judges will likely want to return to their Florida property now that the Yankees’ season has come to an end—particularly with the Yankees captain now contemplating undergoing offseason surgery on his right elbow, according to ESPN.
Judge suffered a flexor strain to the elbow in July and told media after the team’s loss to the Blue Jays that he would “definitely do some work on it” during the offseason, but noted that he “doesn’t know” whether that will require going under the knife.
It is unclear whether any recommended procedure would take place in New York or Florida.
Still, the MLB legend will have plenty of time to rehab his arm, with the Yankees not expected to start spring training until February 2026, giving Judge a four-month stint to rest and relax—even as his lawsuit continues.
Should he wish to escape all reminders of his ongoing legal battle, property records indicate that Judge does have another home available to him in Florida, having previously purchased a sprawling three-bedroom, three-bathroom waterfront Tampa condo for $825,000 back in 2018.
