The New York Yankees are currently over the moon to have Juan Soto destroy opponents in Yankee gear. However, the Bronx Bombers’ happiness could be short lived and limited to this year only. Notably, the generational talent will become an unrestricted free agent next year.
The San Diego Padres traded him this off-season to save on some cash and also because they didn’t have the kind of money required to keep Juan Soto long-term. But can the New York Yankees take the plunge next free agency for Soto? Well, the likelihood of the same seems bleak, given the 25-year-old slugger’s ambitious asking price.
Juan Soto, Scott Boras Will Be After Records Next Off-Season, Says Brittany Ghiroli!
25-year-old generational star Juan Soto made a bold statement when he rejected Washington Nationals 15 years $440 million extension offer before getting traded to Padres. He knew his worth then, and he knows his worth now. Soto sought a trade from the Padres as he knew San Diego had no money for him. He eventually landed with the New York Yankees, a superstar team filled with greater talents than Soto. The generational star sees this as an opportunity to up his stakes by delivering an above-average season. And the beginning of the same has been extraordinary. In six games so far, Soto is hitting .417 with a home run, four RBIs, and 1.101 OPS. Needless to say, Juan is poised to have a stellar season in pinstripes.
That being said, Juan Soto, in all likelihood, will enter free agency next off-season. Moreover, The Athletic’s Brittany Ghiroli claims Soto’s bid will start at $500 million. She says Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, has big eyes and will be chasing league record next off-season. His target is to fetch Soto a deal similar to Shohei Ohtani without any deferrals. Not only that, the sports agent is expected to largely focus on higher AAV than the overall length of the deal. If this scenario holds true, the New York Yankees can count themselves out already. With Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, and Gerrit Cole sitting on $30 million AAV contracts, it’s impossible for Hal Steinbrenner to accommodate Soto and also keep the luxury tax threshold in check. Overall, the next free-agency will be monumental for not only Juan Soto but for the entire league market.
Soto Taking Cues From Aaron Judge Ahead Of Decisive Free Agency!
Juan Soto is apparently taking inspiration from the New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge as his free agency inches closer. Apparently, the slugger plans on following in Judge’s footsteps to inflate the free agency market so that the next generation can earn good money in the future.
“You cannot be selfish. You have to think about the guys who come in behind you,” said Juan Soto to the Athletic. However, when asked about his preferences, Soto refrained from pouring out much details. He is focused on playing baseball with the New York Yankees this year, with his trusted agent handling business aspect of his behalf.
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