Under Armour said that it is "negotiating a long-term extension" with Yankees RF Aaron Judge, according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore SUN. UA Senior Dir for Global Sports Marketing Walker Jones said, "We’re right now in the middle of renewing Aaron’s deal. We’re putting the finishing touches on a long-term extension.” UA signed Judge in '14 when he was still in the minors, and then last year signed "another young star," Dodgers 1B Cody Bellinger, who also is playing in this year's All-Star Game. Jones said Judge and Bellinger “immediately popped on our radar because of the markets they were going to be in." Bellinger's UA deal "will be up after this year." UA noted that it unveiled "special edition cleats" with a "Miami theme" for Judge and Bellinger at last night's T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Marlins Park. Barker notes UA yesterday also "released the latest version of its baseball cleat" made for Nationals RF Bryce Harper called the "Miami Bryce" Harper 2. UA also has a deal with Dodgers P Clayton Kershaw (Baltimore SUN, 7/11). ESPN.com's Darren Rovell wrote for autograph dealers and corporate America, Judge has "become more in demand than any young star in the game's history." But Judge has "told his agents that he's not ready to sort through all the options." The world of baseball collectibles "can't get enough of Judge, who is getting hounded by autograph companies to sign an exclusive deal with them" (ESPN.com, 7/10).
