New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is still in the early stages of falling in love with a fan base that has warmly greeted him this spring, but it appears his management wants it known that he is open to a free agent move to the New York Mets.
“The Yankees will aim to retain him, and sources within the Mets organization have said that team intends to make a run, too,” ESPN MLB insider Buster Olney said about Soto for a piece published Wednesday. “Agents speculate that the two big numbers that Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, will target are $500M in a total package, as well as the record for any position player…While there might be other teams involved in the chase, all he really needs to push salary benchmarks is to be the object of a Yankees versus Mets bidding war.”
Soto joined the Yankees from the San Diego Padres in a December trade and has immediately established himself as a fan favorite and crucial player for a club that started the season 12-3 before going on a three-game losing streak.
According to ESPN figures, Soto started Wednesday tied for the MLB lead with 16 walks. Over his first 18 games in pinstripes, he batted.324 with a.947 OPS, three home runs, and 15 RBIs.
It was reported earlier this month that the combination of Soto and Boras is unlikely to provide the Yankees with a discount before or shortly after the 25-year-old enters the free agent market this fall.
Olney mentioned in Wednesday’s article that Soto “could surpass the present-day value assessment for” the contract that two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani landed from the Los Angeles Dodgers this past offseason.
“Under the terms of his deal, Ohtani will make $2M in salary next year,” Olney explained. “If Soto stays healthy and productive — and continues his love affair with the Yankees and their fans — it’s possible he could make 25 times that amount. He could be the first player to earn $50M in a season.”
“Under the terms of his deal, Ohtani will make $2M in salary next year,” Olney explained. “If Soto stays healthy and productive — and continues his love affair with the Yankees and their fans — it’s possible he could make 25 times that amount. He could be the first player to earn $50M in a season.”
The Mets’ big-spending owner Steve Cohen has the potential to outbid every other club for Soto, and Cohen appears to be eager to spend money before Christmas 2024, following the club’s generally quiet winter.
The Mets started the season with five straight losses, but they eventually improved to 9-8 heading into Wednesday’s home game against the 11-7 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Beloved Mets first baseman Pete Alonso is also on track to become a free agent after this season, but some believe team president of baseball operations David Stearns “has little interest” in paying a slugger who turns 30 in December.
In sum, the rumors of a Yankees-Mets duel over Soto’s services appear unlikely to die down very soon.
