Patience serves Juan Soto well in the batter’s box, and the New York Yankees’ 26-year-old slugger digs in for free agency with the same approach in mind.
“I’m really happy with the city, with the team, but at the end of the day, we will see,” Soto said. “We’re going to look at every situation, every offer that we get. I don’t know what teams want to come after me, but definitely I’ll be open to listen to every single team. I don’t have any doors closed or anything like that, so we’re going to be available for all 30 teams.”
Acquired by the Yankees from the San Diego Padres, his third team since breaking into MLB in 2018 with the Washington Nationals, Soto sealed a monumental payday with a career-best 7.9 WAR and 128 runs scored. He also had 41 home runs, 31 doubles, 109 RBIs, 129 walks and .569 slugging percentage.
When the World Series wrapped Wednesday night, Soto became baseball’s star attraction, much the same way Shohei Ohtani started the 2023 offseason as the marquee free agent expected to bring epic contract offers. Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers set on making it to the postseason spotlight after the Angels failed to make the playoffs.
Soto won a World Series with the Nationals, then turned down an offer of 15-year, $440 million contract in 2022 prompting Washington to move him in a trade with San Diego.
But he said Wednesday night winning is a priority and being involved in the playoffs is “one of the biggest things I’m looking for.” Whether that’s with the Yankees and beside likely American League MVP Aaron Judge isn’t a given. Judge knows the feeling. He signed a nine-year, $360 million deal in December 2022 to stay with the Yankees despite hefty offers from the San Francisco Giants and Padres.
“Leaving any place that is a winning team? It’s always hard, and definitely this place was really special,” Soto said. “It’s been a blast for me. I’ve been really happy. If I’m here or not, I’m really happy for the teammates that I have and the people that I got to know in here. This was a really special group.”
Soto is represented by Scott Boras, already on the record framing his client as the best available talent on the open market. Boras clients are prone to holding their signatures until all offers can be heard. From a player’s perspective, it’s difficult to argue with his results in megadeals the likes of Yankees right-hander Gerrit Cole, Bryce Harper (Philadelphia Phillies), Corey Seager (Texas Rangers), Jose Altuve (Houston Astros), Xander Bogaerts (Padres).
Boras also represents New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso and Astros third baseman Alex Bregman in the current free agent class.
Asked about the potential of signing a contract worth $600 million this winter, Soto reached for his agent cap.
“It’s a lot of money that people are talking about here and there, but definitely we are going to shake it out,” he said. “What’s my value?”
–Field Level Media