For the benefit of New York Yankees fans, I hope Juan Soto does not have one foot out the door as a sought-after free agent this winter. Because if he does, some New York media members might have just given him the ultimate push out of the Bronx.
After the Yankees defeated the Kansas City Royals in Game 3, NJ Advance Media inquired about a ‘astronomical’ offer the Toronto Blue Jays intended to make to Soto. Soto dismissed it, saying he’s not concerned about anything while the season is still ongoing and the Yankees are aiming to return to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
“I don’t know anything about that,” Soto stated in the NJ Advance Media story. “They can’t talk to me right now. Let’s see what occurs throughout the offseason.
As he should. The offseason will be over soon, but until then, even if he’s worried about who will toss him the biggest bag, the better he plays, the more money he may earn.
But it begs the question: how much may Soto earn in his first summer as an unrestricted free agent? He may not be thinking about such things right now, but they do raise the question of how much he could sign for and who decides to cut the check.
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New York Yankees will be in a bidding war to retain Juan Soto this offseason
According to rumors, both the New York Mets and the Blue Jays are willing to negotiate with Soto. Both teams could afford what is expected to be the most lucrative contract in MLB history. While Soto doesn’t pitch much, he’s put himself in the running to outperform Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700-million contract with the Dodgers.
According to Tim Britton of The Athletic, Soto’s next payday is expected to be in the 14-year, $560 million area. Aaron Judge, his teammate, recently received a nine-year, $360 million contract, while Mike Trout signed a 12-year contract worth little less than $430 million in 2019.
With Pete Alonso’s imminent free agency this offseason, the Mets will need to find an offensive replacement. Even if they bring back Alonso, why not add Soto as well, if only to slap it in the Yankees’ faces?
The Blue Jays are another club worth keeping an eye on. According to the NJ Advance Media story, the Blue Jays might make an offer worth up to $600 million.
Whoever wins the bidding war for Soto will have to open the checkbook. The Yankees will do everything they can to keep him teamed with Aaron Judge. The Mets would give anything to get one of their top batters removed from their opponent. The Blue Jays could also pull it off.
We’ll have to wait till after the ALCS to find out who wins over Soto.
