With Juan Soto in the starting lineup, the New York Yankees are a different squad. They had won five straight games to start the season, but Tuesday night’s 7-0 loss to the Diamondbacks was mostly caused by Soto. How long will he stay in New York is the question.
For the time being, Soto is a Yankee player, signed to a $31 million, one-year contract that is subject to arbitration. The 25-year-old outfielder’s free agency is still pending, and the bidding war is predicted to be as fierce as it was for Shohei Ohtani, who inked a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. The majority of the money was delayed.
Soto stated on Monday at Chase Field that he is currently enjoying playing for the Yankees with number 22.
He declared, “It’s a fantastic organization.” “It seems like home to me because of the guys.”
Scott Boras, the agent of Soto, has long harbored hopes of landing the big-time player for a hefty fee. This year, he had more than a little difficulty landing five well-known free agents.
Near the trade deadline in 2022, Soto declined a $440 million, 15-year extension from the Washington Nationals, which led to his virtually instantaneous move to the San Diego Padres. It appears that Boras and his client set the stage for the outfielder by believing he was worth more.
When asked about his long-term strategy, Soto hesitated.
“I’m playing baseball right now,” Soto remarked. My attention is on 2024. I have nothing else on my mind. You can give Scott a call if you would want to question someone about it. He will respond to every query.
Okay, so perhaps not. First baseman Pete Alonso of the New York Mets will also be available to Boras this winter, and he is aware that both players and their respective big-market teams still have the entire season to decide whether they succeed or fail.
Though none of the 26 player contracts for more than $125 million that Boras has negotiated are among the Boras Five this year, the New York Post pointed out that just three of them were extensions before the player became a free agent. The most recent was Jose Altuve’s $163.5 million, seven-year contract to stay in Houston for the remainder of his career.
In the spring, Boras stated, “My job is to look at each scenario and respond to the player’s well-being.” “I could never, ever gauge that until you’re in that situation. Sometimes that’s staying with their team, and sometimes that’s going to a new team.”
But Soto is the real deal; he already has a 2019 World Series ring from his time with the Nationals. And he can definitely see the benefit of adding the Yankees’ 28th World Series championship, which they haven’t had since 2009. The Expos/Nationals team had never won in Washington before. Soto reached the 2022 National League Championship Series with the Padres, but his two-game loss to San Diego last season prevented him from making the playoffs.
The greatest move the team made this year was trading him to the Yankees during the offseason. Even in the short run, the Padres couldn’t afford Soto since they were in a reducing mode following the passing of owner Peter Seidler.
Nevertheless, Soto expressed his surprise at being traded.
You never anticipate that, he remarked. But compared to the first time, it was simpler this time. Though it’s never easy, I already knew that baseball is a business. Thus, I knew how to deal with it.
At Yankee Stadium on Friday, Soto will play his first home game against the Toronto Blue Jays. A left-handed hitter will also undoubtedly see Monument Park and all those retired numbers beyond the short right-field porch. No other baseball team can compare to the Yankees’ legacy.
Being a part of that is pretty fantastic, Soto commented. “That history is amazing. The crowds in New York will be larger. It raises the bar for expectations.
He and Boras are going to deal with a formidable immovable object in the Yankees’ negotiations. First and foremost, the team has waited until the offseason to finalize any contract options, extensions, or free agent agreements under the leadership of major owner Hal Steinbrenner. Second, even with Soto, New York is unlikely to surpass the terms of Aaron Judge, who they signed to a nine-year, $360 million contract two years ago as a free agent.
For instance, the Yankees weren’t planning to outbid Gerrit Cole on a nine-year, $324 million contract before the 2020 campaign when they were negotiating with Japanese sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto on a free-agent deal during the offseason. Yamamoto inked a 12-year, $325 million contract with the Dodgers after the Yanks withdrew their $300 million offer.
However, the judge stated on Monday that he already regards Soto highly. Judge has Steinbrenner’s ear and a huge influence on the Yankees’ circumstances.
“He’s enormous. About Soto, Judge remarked, “He’s a game-changer.” “We’ve been lacking a couple of good lefties to balance things out in our lineup.”
Currently, Judge is positioned third in the lineup, right behind Soto. He batted leadoff two years ago when he broke Roger Maris’ Yankee and American League records with 62 home runs. He hit second most of the previous season.
In 2023, while playing for the Padres, Soto reached base 290 times with 156 hits, a league-high 132 walks, and two pitch hits. He achieved 97 points. If both guys can stay healthy, Judge will have plenty of chances to score runs.
Judge exclaimed, “Man, I love it.” He performs the count. He shows me a few pitches. I find it astounding.
The Yanks were among the weakest offensive teams in Major League Baseball the previous season, ranking 25th in the league with 673 runs scored. Although it’s early, they are ranked tenth with Soto in the lineup. Judge is only getting started, too.
Aaron Boone, manager of the Yankees, stated that Soto has already had a significant impact.
“Everyone’s talking about it,” he remarked, chuckling. “He’s done an amazing job integrating himself into our space and our culture. He has been welcomed by the guys. He belongs to them.
Yankee in the long run, or just for a year? Pay attention.
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