At this point, the Yankees have plenty to worry about in 2024 as they aim to finish the season strong and prepare for a hopeful World Series run. They can’t afford to be concerned about their many free agents right now, as the lineup and starting rotation need to be in top form.
However, once the Yankees’ season ends, the future of their free agents will become a major issue, particularly regarding Juan Soto. The star player, acquired from San Diego last winter, will hit the market, and the Yankees will face pressure to retain him.
There will be significant competition, especially from the crosstown rival Mets, who have long been interested in Soto and tried to trade for him when he was in Washington.
Bleacher Report analyst Tyler Ward predicts that the Yankees will ultimately be outbid for Soto by the Mets. As he stated, “Juan Soto is going to be a New York Metropolitan.”
Juan Soto Has Been Stellar This Season
Soto has been outstanding for the Yankees this season, hitting .310 with 28 home runs and a career-high OPS of 1.035. He has integrated well into the clubhouse and brought a renewed energy to the team after last season’s disappointing performance.
Losing Soto would be a significant blow for the Yankees, but the Mets might be prepared to outbid them this winter. In an ESPN poll of MLB executives in June, half projected Soto to receive between $500-$600 million.
“If you don’t think that the Mets are going to be unbelievably, heavily involved in that market, I’ve got a bridge to sell you,” Ward said. “Juan Soto has been a target of the Mets going back to his time with the Washington Nationals. The Mets offered a package including some of their key young assets, but Mike Rizzo of the Nationals declined. Juan Soto has been a target of the Mets for years, he thrives at Citi Field, he loves New York, and we’re seeing it with the Bronx Bombers right now.
“Unless the Yankees win it all this season, I don’t believe that (Yankees owner Hal) Steinbrenner will go to the lengths or the dollars that Steve Cohen will.”
Yankees Could Be Outbid by the Mets
Rumors about Soto and the Mets have been circulating since the spring when it became clear that Soto would not be signing a contract extension with the Yankees and would hit free agency. The Yankees gave up a strong package to acquire Soto, along with Trent Grisham, for Jhony Brito, Kyle Higashioka, Michael King, Drew Thorpe, and Randy Vásquez.
Losing him without any return would be painful.
Back in March, Jon Heyman of the New York Post raised the possibility of the Mets landing Soto. He wrote, “Folks around the game are suggesting that after a year on practical free-agent hiatus, Steve Cohen’s Mets may become the biggest competitor for Soto’s services. (I first wrote about this possibility Dec. 7, and whispers are getting louder, so it’s worth repeating.)”
The rumors have been persistent. While Soto seems to have enjoyed his time with the Yankees, the question remains whether they will match the Mets’ financial offer.
