TRADE ALERT: Yankees Star’s Agent Drops $325 Million Hint on Price of New Deal
According to a report by Joel Sherman in the New York Post, Scott Boras hinted at Juan Soto’s potential earning power by mentioning the impressive contract signed by Yoshinobu Yamamoto, despite the latter never having played a game in MLB. Yamamoto, who is not represented by Boras, surpassed Gerrit Cole’s 324 million pitching record with a 325 million deal. This alluded to the notion that teams are willing to pay exorbitant amounts for a combination of youth and talent.
Boras’s implication could be interpreted as suggesting that Soto is poised to demand a salary exceeding $325 million in his next contract, possibly even breaking an all-time MLB record similar to Yamamoto’s achievement as the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.
Could the New York Yankees Enter Into a Lengthy Agreement with Juan Soto?
The New York Yankees and Juan Soto set an MLB record with a $31 million contract for the 2024 season to avoid arbitration. However, the current MLB contract record belongs to Shohei Ohtani, who received $700 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023.
It is unlikely that Soto will surpass Ohtani’s record due to Ohtani being a two-way player. Soto could potentially earn more than Aaron Judge’s $360 million contract in 2022 or even Mike Trout’s $425 million extension with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.
According to Pete Caldera, it might require a $500 million-plus deal to sign Soto in free agency, considering his market value. The Yankees and Soto are waiting to assess the 2024 season before delving into serious contract discussions.
Owner Hal Steinbrenner hinted at the possibility of offering Soto a larger contract than Judge’s, stating that the market will determine Soto’s cost. Spotrac projects that Soto could secure a 12-year, $408 million contract based on his market value for the prime of his career.
The New York Mets may potentially vie with the New York Yankees for the signing of Juan Soto
As Soto approaches free agency, the New York Mets have emerged as a leading contender to secure his services with a lucrative, long-term contract.
According to a report by Bob Nightengale in USA Today, the Mets are anticipated to aggressively pursue Juan Soto and are positioned as strong contenders to secure the outfielder’s signature when he hits free agency next year.
If the Yankees are prepared to meet any financial demands to retain Soto beyond this season, their most promising chance may hinge on their potential for a successful World Series campaign in 2024.
