By Samantha Stephensen
The New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman recently spoke to the media about some of the impending free agents that are on the team. Despite facing tons of questions about them, he downplayed the possibility of a potential extension for some of their highest profile upcoming free agents, including both Juan Soto and Gleyber Torres.
Juan Soto Might Be A One-Year Rental For The Yankees
Cashman had this to say regarding a possible extension on Soto in particular, “The odds are this is a one-year situation. I don’t see too many things stopping him from reaching free agency.” It’s not surprising though, Soto is going to be a heavily sought after player for all MLB teams, not just the Yankees. He’s just 25 years old right now with six years of incredible production in the big leagues. He’s smashed 160 home runs in just 779 career games as well, with more walks than strikeouts. Any team that’s looking to improve will hope to nab him when he becomes available, and his asking price will likely keep it from being the Yankees.
For those that might not believe he’d be willing to walk away from the Yankees if they don’t meet his exact demands, he’s already done so in his career. Soto declined a $440 million extension from the Washington Nationals in 2022. Right after, the team decided to cut ties and trade him to the San Diego Padres. Yes, New York spent a lot of capital to acquire Soto, but the team knows it’s a one-year rental and an all-or-nothing type of season.
Yankees Fans Looking At Torres As Well
Outside of Soto, Torres is at the forefront of Yankees fans’ minds as well. A few months ago, it was reported that the Yankees hadn’t even approached Torres on a possible contract extension. The infielder has expressed interest in returning, and even sounds hopeful to get a deal done, though the interest hasn’t been mutual yet. Torres has hit 123 home runs in 734 games, with a batting split of .267/.334/.454. He hasn’t played great defense at second base as of late, but he’s still a solid player for New York.
Moving into 2024, Torres is expected to be a key cog in the Yankees franchise as they compete for a World Series title. After that, it certainly appears likely that the Yankees will attempt to move away from him and replace him in the offseason. This is especially true because Cashman has made it clear that they want to improve on the mound when possible.
New York has a tax number hovering around $307 million, meaning that they are incredibly tight when it comes to their budget. If they spend any more, they’re going to be hit with a massive 110 percent tax on that. I find it very unlikely that we will see this team sign anything other than smaller, minor-league deals barring a significant injury that might change their roster drastically. For those hoping to keep both Soto and Torres, it doesn’t look likely right now.
