For a chunk 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 most typical reply” concerning potential touchdown spots for the All-Star slugger.
“Whatever the roster math, given what Soto has achieved in his first two months within the Bronx, it is onerous to ascertain the Yankees something in need of all-in on retaining him this offseason,” McDaniel wrote.
The Yankees acquired Soto from the San Diego Padres in December, and he shortly turned an adored fan-favorite who not too long ago had his identify 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 dwelling 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 Useful Participant Award for this season. New York captain Aaron Choose was the general favourite at +110 odds.
In late Could, Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay indicated that group proprietor Hal Steinbrenner was “not bluffing” when Steinbrenner mentioned earlier this spring that the membership’s present payroll is “not sustainable” long-term attributable to luxury-tax penalties. In the meantime, one particular person instructed ESPN that Soto may probably ink a whopping 10-year, $655M contract in free company.
“The Mets are a bit tougher to peg,” McDaniel continued. “President of baseball operations David Stearns is coming off a low-key first winter in that position, so how will he and proprietor Steve Cohen strategy Soto’s free company? Stearns hasn’t labored with a giant payroll up 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 government with the Milwaukee Brewers from the autumn of 2015 till he moved into an advisory position with the group after the 2022 season. It is extensively assumed that Cohen, and never Stearns, can have the ultimate say on how a lot the Mets will supply 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 present the Yankees a reduction and reject more cash from Cohen to stick with what’s seen by many because the extra steady of the 2 organizations.
