The New York Yankees reaped rewards of its risky off-season trade move in which they traded Juan Soto for five major league ready pieces. The 25-year-old generational star subsequently made his move to Bronx and has witnessed nothing but success and love in the Big Apple.
As of this writing, Juan Soto is hitting .352 with 4 home runs and 17 RBIs in 19 games. Needless to say, the Yankees would want more of Soto. And irrespective of his impending free agency, MLB insider claims the Bronx Bombers aims to leave no stone unturned in extending the generational talent’s stay in Bronx.
Yankees Likely To Pursue Juan Soto Aggressively In Upcoming Free Agency!
No team in MLB would reject the prospect of adding a generational talent like Juan Soto on their roster in a 10+ years contract. The New York Yankees, who attained Soto’s one-year-long service in a tough trade deal, are no different. Though general manager Brian Cashman envisions Soto entering free agency next year, the Yanks are in no mood to drop the ball too easily. Jon Heyman of New York Post recently claimed that NYY would prioritize Soto’s extension next off-season, irrespective of competition creeping from across the subway. Heyman had earlier claimed that the Mets had expressed equal interest in landing Soto, with ESPN’s Buster Olney expecting a showdown between the two city rivals for Soto in 2025.
While Juan Soto is yet to make up his mind, most critics expect him to hit free agency and start his bid by $500 million. His agent, Scott Boras, will be chasing records next year and won’t relent until he makes Soto the most expensive position player in the league’s history. His annual AVV could exceed that of Shohei Ohtani, as the latter has deferred 97% of his salary till the end of his deal. Hence, in all likelihood, Soto will surpass Yankees captain Aaron Judge in free agency numbers. That’s where things get tricky for the Bombers. With Judge Gerrit Cole and Giancarlo Stanton already eating up $30 million each on yearly payroll, it’s nearly improbable for Hal Steinbrenner to accommodate Soto whilst abiding by luxury tax rule simultaneously.
Soto Loves the Yankees and has Complete Faith In The Team!
Meanwhile, Juan Soto has got himself to feel at home at Yankees thanks to the teammates support and the fans immeasurable love. In his recent conversational with press, Soto said the team feels like family. They have the same goals, same mindset and wants to do best on the field to bring a smile on the fans’ faces.
He also mentioned how fans have had his back and that he is overwhelmed with the reception. Juan Soto further added that despite a series loss against the Toronto Blue Jays, he hasn’t lost faith in the team. He strongly believes the Yankees lineup is formidable enough to take on any strong force on a given day. While setbacks are a part of the sport, he is confident that the team will stick around and bounce back to ensure a deep postseason run.
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