For a bit printed on Tuesday, ESPN spoke with “28 MLB executives, brokers and insiders” about the way forward for New York Yankees outfielder and pending free agent Juan Soto.
Unsurprisingly, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel revealed that the Yankees and New York Mets “had been by far the commonest reply” concerning potential touchdown spots for the All-Star slugger.
“Whatever the roster math, given what Soto has performed in his first two months within the Bronx, it is laborious to examine the Yankees something wanting all-in on retaining him this offseason,” McDaniel wrote.
The Yankees acquired Soto from the San Diego Padres in December, and he shortly grew to become an adored fan-favorite who just lately had his title chanted when he was on the bench due to forearm irritation. Throughout his first 65 video games with the Yankees, Soto batted .318 with 17 house runs, 53 RBI and a 1.024 OPS.
As of Tuesday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Soto tied for third among the many betting favorites at +475 odds to win the American League Most Worthwhile Participant Award for this season. New York captain Aaron Choose was the general favourite at +110 odds.
In late Might, Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay indicated that crew proprietor Hal Steinbrenner was “not bluffing” when Steinbrenner mentioned earlier this spring that the membership’s present payroll is “not sustainable” long-term resulting from luxury-tax penalties. In the meantime, one particular person informed ESPN that Soto might probably ink a whopping 10-year, $655M contract in free company.
“The Mets are a bit more durable to peg,” McDaniel continued. “President of baseball operations David Stearns is coming off a low-key first winter in that function, so how will he and proprietor Steve Cohen strategy Soto’s free company? Stearns hasn’t labored with a giant payroll prior to now, and he hasn’t tipped his hand but on his fashion in high-dollar free company.”
Earlier than Stearns formally joined the Mets this previous October, he served as an govt with the Milwaukee Brewers from the autumn of 2015 till he moved into an advisory function with the group after the 2022 season. It is broadly assumed that Cohen, and never Stearns, may have the ultimate say on how a lot the Mets will provide Soto after the 2024 World Collection concludes.
McDaniel identified that different franchises talked about as attainable suitors for Soto are “seen as secondary to the New York golf equipment at this level.” It is unclear if Soto would instruct agent Scott Boras to provide the Yankees a low cost and reject more cash from Cohen to stick with what’s seen by many because the extra steady of the 2 organizations.
