Report: Yankees are ready for a $500 million bidding war to sign superstar outfielder from rival team across town.
When the offseason rolls around, the New York Yankees’ top goal is to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto to a long-term contract so that he can compete for titles with fellow megastar Aaron Judge.
The teams most likely to pursue Soto will be the Yankees and Mets.
But the crosstown rival New York Mets are keen to lure the star out of the Bronx and into Queens, so the Yankees won’t be the only team vying for Soto. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, both New York teams are the 26-year-old outfielder’s most likely suitors.
“The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and both Los Angeles teams could probably afford Soto, but they have a long way to go before they can seriously contend for his services. Passan wrote, “Seattle could use him, but the money will put him off.” High-ranking front office and ownership-level sources ultimately predict that Soto’s winter will go like this: Yankees vs. Mets. Hemoth against Hemoth
The Yankees are unable to bear losing Soto to free agency.
In his first season with the pinstripes, Soto is enjoying the best season of his long career thus far. With 37 home runs this season, he has already surpassed Judge for the most in a career. His 1.027 OPS is also the greatest in baseball. This was before the start of September. In a roster that struggled to produce last season without a second star beside Judge, his impact has been felt greatly.
Because of this, the Yankees, who have the second-best record in MLB going into Tuesday, are in a strong position to finally snap their 15-year title drought. Even still, they cannot afford to lose Soto to the competition across town. Every time he comes onto the field, the fans adore him and shower him with love; this was further highlighted on Sunday afternoon when the Yankee Stadium supporters erupted in chants of “Re-sign Soto!” in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.
The Yankees have the cash to offer Soto a very expensive contract, but they have also made it quite evident that they will eventually have to reduce payroll, so a Soto extension is not a given. The outfielder is expected to get one of the largest contracts in sports history, and by the time Soto signs a contract, it’s more likely that only Shohei Ohtani will have a better offer.
When other players’ contracts expire, the Yankees could be able to afford to bring Soto back.
Nonetheless, the Yankees will be able to afford to bring back Soto without suffering long-term financial consequences because they have a number of important contracts coming off their books when the offseason begins. Gleyber Torres and Clay Holmes are two more upcoming free agents who might not be able to re-sign, but if it means they can keep Soto, it would be worth the price.
For the next few months, there will be constant speculation about Soto’s whereabouts and future because free agency is only speculative until the offseason truly starts. The Yankees and Mets might be engaged in a full-fledged bidding war for a generational talent by the time winter arrives.
