Ahead of the New York Yankees taking the field for Opening Day 2024, a new report gives an update on the team’s hopes to re-sign Juan Soto and what it might cost to get a deal done.
There is a lot of excitement around the start of the Yankees 2024 season. After a disastrous and injury-filled 2023, there is a belief that bounce-back seasons from several players, as well as the additions of Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman, should make major differences.
- Juan Soto stats (Spring Training): 46 AB, .304 AVG, .373 OBP, .630 SLG, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 9 R
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However, hovering over this season is that the star outfielder they acquired from the San Diego Padres in the winter has every intention of testing free agency after the season. And the organization is dead set on making sure he stays a Yankee for many more seasons.
On Thursday, ESPN MLB reporter Alden Gonzalez went into some depth on the situation and revealed that conversations won’t have any traction over the next few months because Soto’s agent Scott Boras reportedly told the New York front office his client wants to “learn what it’s like to be a Yankee” before having any conversations about a contract.
Nevertheless, Gonzalez claims the organization plans to be very “aggressive” to try and get Juan Soto to put pen to paper on a new long-term deal. But, the question is how much could it cost to re-sign the three-time All-Star?
- Juan Soto contract projection: 10 years, $500 million
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While it is unlikely that he will surpass the 10-year, $700 million deal the Dodgers gave Shohei Ohtani in the winter, he may not be that far off. It is well known that the outfielder turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nationals.
The ESPN reporter revealed that the New York Yankees are willing to surpass the nine-year, $360 million deal they gave to top star Aaron Judge after an MVP season in 2022 to bring Soto back.
If that is the case a contract for 10 years and nearly $500 million would not be out of the question for Soto this winter. Soto got off to a fast start for the team and posted some big numbers in Spring Training.
