Though the New York Yankees are intent on making it back to the postseason in 2024, concerns remain regarding 2025 and beyond. The most significant of them all is to outfielder Juan Soto, who is anticipated to be a free agency following the conclusion of current campaign.
Can the 25-year-old superstar be signed to a long-term contract by the Yankees again? After the trade deadline passed, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report made “way too early” predictions on ten players’ free agents. He believes Soto will re-sign for a contract of $520 million and 15 years with the Bombers.
He stated, “There should already be money earmarked for Soto. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner may not have helped his cause by whining about “unsustainable” payrolls in May.” “Considering the amount of money the team has coming off its books this winter, signing him might even be feasible without having to deal with a massive increase in payroll.”
Only Shohei Ohtani has inked a contract worth more than $500 million. He signed a $700 million, ten-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. But because of a very high number of deferrals, Ohtani’s deal is only worth roughly $460 million now. A $500 million agreement may give Soto the highest current value contract in MLB history, depending on how his future contract is set up.
Juan Soto Must Stay with the Yankees in the Bronx
In a sensational trade with the San Diego Padres in December of last year, Soto was acquired by New York. The left-handed slugger’s brief tenure in the Bronx has left an impression.
He is cutting.In 486 plate appearances, he is 309/.436/.593 with 27 home runs, 22 doubles, 77 RBI, 89 runs scored, and a league-high 89 walks. Alongside teammate Aaron Judge, Soto started as an outfielder in the All-Star Game.
At the head of manager Aaron Boone’s lineup, they have shown themselves to be a formidable combination. They have a combined total of 176 RBI and 66 home runs before the August 1 games.
According to FanGraphs, the Yankees’ team wRC+ in 2023 was 94, good for a tie for 19th place in baseball. New York’s team wRC+ as of August 1 climbed to 119, the greatest number in baseball. Among eligible Yankee hitters, Judge (212 wRC+) and Soto (189 wRC+) are unquestionably in the lead.
Who Is the Yankees’ Primary Soto Rival?
A talent like Soto should be in the starting lineup of every MLB team. Only a small number of people can, however, afford the outfielder’s projected price tag. Rymer included the San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals, and Texas Rangers as possible destinations for Soto. He did, however, add that the New York Mets now pose the greatest threat to the Yankees.
There has been a months-long bidding war between the Mets and Yankees for Soto. First baseman Pete Alonso is another soon-to-be free agent whom the Mets will need to deal with. But will David Stearns, president of baseball operations, be allowed to attempt to sign both Soto and Alonso this coming winter?
One league executive who is acquainted with Mets owner Steve Cohen but is not employed by the organization said to SNY’s Andy Martino in February, “I bet he goes for both.”
It should be an interesting road for Soto to free agency, with the Mets possibly going all-in for him and the Yankees being hampered by needing to control money. It’ll turn out to be very profitable for the left-handed hitter as well.
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