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The New York Yankees are so enamored with superstar outfielder Juan Soto that owner Hal Steinbrenner recently said that he would considering negotiating a contract extension in the middle of the season to ensure he remains with the Yankees long term.
That isn’t something New York typically does, and it’s pretty rare that you see players do that in general. Especially when they are Scott Boras clients.
An American League executive has thrown a wet blanket on the chances of the Yanks being able to lock up Soto—who is an impending free agent—midseason, saying “there’s no chance.”
“I think he ultimately signs back with the Yankees, but Scott takes his guys into free agency,” the exec said, via Mark Feinsand of MLB.com.
Another AL executive gave the Bronx Bombers a five percent chance of re-signing Soto in the middle of the 2024 campaign, saying that Soto may at least listen due to the potential for injuries or a poor postseason.
“Not many teams that can afford him, so the pool is limited,” the executive said of Soto. “But it’s hard not to wait and see what the Mets are willing to pay.”
But would Soto—who seems open to the idea of a midseason extension—really want to leave the Yankees for the Mets?
Juan Soto seems to fit perfectly with the Yankees
When star players go to the Yankees, a rough start is often in the cards due to all of the pressure that comes with playing for one of the most storied franchises in sports.
Soto hasn’t had that problem.
The 25-year-old is slashing .316/.415/.551 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI across 224 plate appearances this season. Not only that, but Soto, who is not known for his defensive prowess, has actually done a tremendous job in right field, posting a 8.5 UZR/150 thus far.
Plus, Soto has really ingratiated himself with the New York fans. He frequently engages with the Yankees faithful during games and has instantly become a fan favorite. Given the way he has performed thus far, how could the fans not love him?
The Dominican native began his career with the Washington Nationals after signing with them as an international free agent in 2015.
He made his big-league debut in 2018, flashing .292/.406/.517 with 22 long balls and 70 RBI over 494 trips to the dish. The following year, he broke out with 34 homers and 110 RBI, flashing a .949 OPS. Most importantly, Soto helped the Nationals win a championship that year, smashing three dingers in the World Series.
Soto spent the first four-and-a-half years of his career in Washington before being traded to the San Diego Padres midway through the 2022 campaign. He actually struggled with the Padres in 2022, slashing .236/.388/.390 with six home runs and 16 RBI in 52 games. However, last season, Soto returned to his old self, registering a slash line of .275/.410/.519 with 35 long balls and 109 RBI.
Because San Diego did not think it would be able to afford Soto once he hits free agency next winter, the Padres dealt him to the Yankees this past offseason.
Soto boasts a career slash line of .286/.421/.526 and has made three All-Star appearances. He appears to be well on his way to a fourth this year.
The Yanks may not be able to extend Soto during the season, but it seems hard to imagine Steinbrenner allowing him to walk next offseason.
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