Everything went well in the Bronx. Gerrit Cole cruised, Aaron Judge homered and Anthony Volpe made his major league debut in an easy win over San Francisco.
From behind-the-back improvisation on a tennis court to dazzling performances at the Olympics, the year offered plenty of highlights — and some lowlights, too.
Baseball was in a spending mood at the winter meetings, where the Mets added Justin Verlander, the Yankees kept Aaron Judge and San Diego splurged on Xander Bogaerts.
In a monster deal that was fueled by a team’s desperation and a player’s desire for a legacy, Aaron Judge will stay with the Yankees. His marching orders are clear: Win.