The hot stove is heating up in the Bronx as the Yankees make their bid to retain slugging superstar Juan Soto. General Manager Brian Cashman met with Soto’s high-profile agent, Scott Boras, at the GM meetings this week to discuss a potential blockbuster contract that could keep the young phenom in pinstripes for the next decade or more.
Soto, who just turned 26, is expected to command a deal in excess of $500 million after a season in which he hit .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBI. His powerful left-handed bat formed a lethal 1-2 punch with Aaron Judge, propelling the Yankees to the World Series. Soto’s clutch 10th inning homer in Game 5 of the ALCS will live on in Yankees lore.
Cashman On The Clock
With Soto now a free agent, Cashman knows he can ill afford to let the generational talent slip away. “We certainly have an interest in retaining him and we’ll put our best foot forward,” the GM told reporters. “That will either lead to us bringing him back or being forced to go in a different direction.”
Cashman revealed that in addition to Soto, he also discussed slugging first baseman Pete Alonso with Boras. The 28-year-old Alonso, another Boras client, is also hitting the open market after mashing 51 home runs for the Mets last season. With Anthony Rizzo’s future uncertain, Alonso could be an enticing fall-back option for the Yankees if Soto’s price tag proves prohibitive.
Will Cohen’s Cash Trump Cashman?
Of course, lurking in the weeds is Steve Cohen and the big-spending crosstown Mets. After a taste of success last season, the hedge fund billionaire owner is sure to flex his financial muscle in pursuit of a superstar who could tilt the balance of power in New York. The prospect of Soto batting between Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso is enough to make any Mets fan salivate.
“They want to win. They’re in a large market with us,” Cashman said of the Mets. “They had a taste of success and want to move the needle forward. That’s just the nature of the beast.”
While Cashman wouldn’t get into a war of words, he made it clear the Yankees won’t back down from their free-spending rivals. With Judge already locked up long-term and a new World Series-or-bust mandate from owner Hal Steinbrenner, expect the Bombers to be all-in on Soto.
Soto Holds The Cards
Ultimately, the decision lies with Soto himself. The charismatic Dominican has been coy about his intentions, saying he’ll listen to offers from all 30 teams. But those close to the situation believe his preference is to remain with the Yankees, where he’s built a close bond with Judge and feels at home in the spotlight of the Big Apple.
“I had a chance to thank him for everything and told him we’d be in touch,” Cashman said of his conversation with Soto after the World Series. “Since then I’ve talked to Scott and he’ll get a feel for the dance steps Juan Soto wants.”
Those dance steps are sure to be complicated, with astronomical dollars at stake and multiple suitors angling to cut in. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s never wise to bet against Brian Cashman when he sets his sights on a prize. Buckle up, baseball fans, the Soto sweepstakes are about to kick into high gear.
