Off-season is yet to kick off, and the rumor mill is already churning loads of wild speculations. The center of almost every possible link-up is the New York Yankees. After the 2023 season fallout, everyone expects them to be bold and aggressive during free agency. However, Hal Steinbrenner is taking a cautious approach with the luxury tax threshold looming over his shoulders.
Speaking of free agency targets, the New York Yankees will prioritize left-handed outfielders. That has been the one key area that hurt the team’s 2023 season campaign the most. Meanwhile, the Yanks were recently linked to San Diego Padres superstar Juan Soto. However, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post burst the fans’ bubble with staggering details.
Yankees-Padres Yet To Discuss Juan Soto Trade, Claims Jon Heyman!
Juan Soto, the 24-year-old generational star of the San Diego Padres, closed yet another strong offensive season with 35 home runs. However, his contributions were not enough to put Padres into playoffs. Moreover, with dynamics constantly evolving, the Padres may opt for a bold move by trading away Soto. Anyways, San Diego intends to lower the payroll by $50 million. Thus, letting go of Soto, who will earn $33 million in his final year, will significantly help the cause. Meanwhile, the desperate New York Yankees emerged as potential suitors for Juan Soto. Not only that, Andy Martino of SNY fuelled the speculations by claiming that the Bombers have initiated trade talks with the Padres already.
However, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post seemingly rejected the claim. He says that the San Diego Padres and New York Yankees did talk about a potential trade involving Juan Soto. But that happened during the mid-season trade deadline. As far as the ongoing off-season is concerned, the two parties have yet to have any official or unofficial conversation. Having said that, the alleged trade discussion is going to happen at some point. It’s just a matter of time. The Bronx Bombers are desperate to land a left-handed hitting outfielder to fill up two gaps in the existing roster. Not only does Soto fill the gaps, but his strong presence on the plate will anchor the rest of the lineup. It would be interesting to see how much the Yanks are willing to sacrifice for the sake of Juan Soto.
Will Yanks Unwillingness To Part With Top Prospects Stall Juan Soto’s Deal?
Despite being an arbitration-eligible player, Juan Soto will fetch a significant exchange offer. The San Diego Padres wouldn’t settle without anything less than 2-3 top prospects paired with a veteran. This is where it could fall apart for the New York Yankees. They have put in significant work behind the likes of Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe.
Thus, those two, including Chase Thompson, Drew Thorpe, and Spencer Jones, will remain off the table. Under these circumstances, the Padres might stall the deal. Still, the Yankees can lure San Diego by offering Everson Pereira, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Anthony Rizzo in a power-packed deal. At the end of the day, the ball is in the Padres court, and they will certainly take the final call.
