JUST IN: Juan Soto Test Free Agency, Land $500 Million From New York Yankees or Another Team
The New York Yankees front office is optimistic about the possibility of securing Juan Soto for the long term before he becomes a free agent. Principal owner Hal Steinbrenner expressed interest in negotiating an in-season extension during a recent interview with Jack Curry of YES.
Soto has indicated that he is open to contract offers, with his agent, Scott Boras, stating he’s “always happy to talk with Hal.” However, this does not guarantee that a deal will be reached before the end of the season.
Randy Miller of NJ.com noted that Boras and Soto are keen on the Yankees bidding to drive up the price, so they welcome Steinbrenner’s proposal for an in-season offer. Nevertheless, even if an offer is made, Soto is unlikely to accept it.
Currently, Soto is on a one-year, $31 million deal with the Yankees, and if no extension is agreed upon this season, he will become an unrestricted free agent.
Miller suggested that while Soto might re-sign with the Yankees after exploring free agency, the team would need to make the highest offer in MLB to retain him. This offer would likely need to be around $500 million or more. Tim Britton of The Athletic predicted Soto could command a 14-year deal worth about $540 million, while Brittany Ghiroli reported that Soto aims to match Shohei Ohtani’s average annual value (AAV) of $46 million per season.
Miller concluded that whatever Steinbrenner does this season is unlikely to significantly impact Soto’s ultimate decision. Soto is expected to follow the money, as is typical for Boras clients, and there probably won’t be any hometown discount for the Yankees if Mets owner Steve Cohen offers a deal comparable to Ohtani’s.
The New York Yankees and Juan Soto Keep Winning, Suggesting the Pair Is a Good Fit
Juan Soto has exceeded the Yankees’ expectations since they acquired him in a preseason trade with the San Diego Padres. So far this season, in 172 at-bats, Soto boasts a .302/.403/.517 slash line, with nine home runs, 34 RBIs, and 30 walks. He leads the team in batting average, RBIs, on-base percentage, hits, and runs.
Despite Randy Miller’s prediction that Soto won’t accept an in-season deal from the Yankees, regardless of its size, others have observed that the partnership between Soto and the Yankees has been mutually beneficial. With the Yankees currently leading the American League East, the team’s success could influence Soto’s decision to commit before the season ends.
“Although Boras has typically taken his players to free agency when they’re this close, a source said talks between the Yankees and Boras are likely to happen at some point,” Mark Feinsand reported for MLB.com. “Soto has stressed his desire to win, and given the early-season success the Yankees have had in his first year with the club, the fit appears to be a good one for both sides.”