Aaron Judge is the top priority for the New York Yankees this offseason, but Brian Cashman says the club won't rush the reigning American League MVP.

Cashman said the Yankees continue to have conversations with Judge and his representatives, and that the two sides have been exchanging contract offers. 

"We'd love to have our player back," the general manager said. "We would love to continue to call him our player every step of the way as he follows what looks like -- as long as nothing happens -- a career path that will lead him to Cooperstown. I would like him to be in pinstripes every step of the way."

Due to the large financial commitment that signing Judge would require, the Yankees currently are on hold with several other free agents as they wait for Judge's decision. Cashman said the Yankees would not put a timetable on Judge, out of respect for him.

"I appreciate being in a position to have a conversation with a player of Judge's magnitude," he said. "The ownership here has allowed us to stay in the game on a big-ticket item. And that's great. I'm sure there's a lot of teams that would love to have access to a player of his caliber but can't participate because the asks are going to be so immense."