In contract years, players often push themselves harder for financial gain, as seen with Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani, who had outstanding performances.
While some players thrive in contract years, others like Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo struggle, contributing to their teams' playoff positioning challenges.
The Yankees' struggle in the AL East is partly due to below-average performances from specific players, highlighting the importance of individual contributions during contract years.
There is evidence supporting the motivational effect of contract years, but it is difficult to isolate individual performance from age-related development.
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