TAMPA, Fla. — Aaron Judge heard the news about Juan Soto from across the state. Actually, the buzz extended all the way up the East Coast. The Mets’ savior had just introduced himself to millions of new Mets fans.

But the crowd at Steinbrenner Field will not see the reigning AL MVP in Friday’s opener and instead will have to wait an extra week to watch him in action this spring, as manager Aaron Boone has circled March 1 as Judge’s likely spring debut.

The New York Yankees franchise slugger addresses his relationship with Juan Soto after he left for the rival New York Mets.