Juan Soto has played a huge role in turning the New York Yankees into a legitimate contender for the 2024 World Series title. Last year, the NY side failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2016. Moreover, they finished with a terrible 82-80 record. It was the franchise’s worst season in the last 30 years. On top of that, they had the second-worst batting average last year behind the Oakland Athletics. As a result, they had been looking for a superstar slugger who could boost the offense and fit perfectly alongside Aaron Judge. And who better than Juan Soto?
After what he has been doing this year, it does not look like any other slugger would fit so well alongside the 2022 AL MVP. Since the Judge-Soto duo is gaining all the spotlight, the Yankees feel the pressure to keep them together well beyond this season. Can the Bronx Bombers sign the potentially biggest free agent at the end of the 2024 season? And if they cannot do so, they must have another backup plan ready.
Who Else Can The Yankees Sign If They Fail To Keep Juan Soto?
Recently, Ken Rosenthal, an MLB insider, who works for The Athletic, mentioned, “The Bronx Bombers can enter the mix to sign the third baseman Alex Bregman.” The Houston Astros star can soon become a free agent. Moreover, the insider named the Seattle Mariners, the Boston Red Sox, the Arizona Diamondbacks, and the Detroit Tigers as possible suitors for the third baseman other than the 27-time World Series champions. Now, why would the Pinstripes enter the mix as potential landing spots for Bregman in the first place? Rosenthal says it won’t be easy for the Yankees to keep Juan Soto. But sure, they will try their best to ensure Aaron Judge and the Dominican slugger remain teammates.
Several teams like the New York Mets, the Washington Nationals, the Philadelphia Phillies, and also the San Francisco Giants will be potential landing spots for the 2020 NL Batting Champion. They are big threats to the NY Yankees for stealing away Soto from them. As a result, Rosenthal believes the Pinstripes are also looking at possible replacements for the Dominican superstar. Among them, Alex Bregman is a pretty good choice to replace Soto. But he may not have the same impact that the four-time Silver Slugger winner had on the Bleacher Creatures. Anyway, if the Yankees land Bregman then, they can move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to the position of second baseman.
The Dominican Superstar Has Put Together The Best Season Of His Career In 2024
Arguably, Juan Soto did not have a better season in his MLB career before than what he is having in 2024. This ongoing season, the superstar lefty slugger has slashed .285/.415/.570 with 39 Home Runs (his career-best so far), and a .985 OPS over 145 games, wearing the pinstripes. He also has 101 RBIs in 2024.
Moreover, his career-best season complemented his age advantage very well before his free agency. He is just 25 years old. Hence, Juan Soto is eligible to receive offers north of $500 million. Now, the question is if the Yankees can spend all that money to keep him for the long term despite having an “Unsustainable payroll.”
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