Amid uncertainty over Juan Soto's future, Yankees explore top pitcher options in free agency ft. Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell - Report
Should the New York Yankees sign Juan Soto in free agency, that would likely be their only move. The deal for Soto will likely surpass any deal they've given a player in free agency, and it will certainly impact their payroll. If they're unable to sign him or choose not to spend that much, they can use that money elsewhere.
So while they wait for Soto and those dominos to begin falling, they're being proactive and looking into top pitching options. Their rotation was a strength, but there are still good options out there to improve.
Corbin Burnes, who spent last year with division rival Baltimore Orioles, and Blake Snell, a target of theirs last winter, are on their radar. According to reports from MLB insider Jon Heyman, the team has checked in on these players. The report also said it was unclear if Soto and a starting pitcher would be feasible for the Yankees.
Soto is likely to command a salary higher than anyone not named Shohei Ohtani in the MLB, and his cumulative value will likely exceed $600 million. If the Yankees put all their efforts into him and come up empty, they may miss out on other players like Burnes and Snell.
Juan Soto could return to Yankees with a good offer
Juan Soto has been the subject of rampant free agency rumors. One such rumor is that he will go to the highest bidder no matter what. Another is that the New York Yankees want him back badly.
The latter is true according to SNY's Andy Martino. The former, however, is not. Martino reported that Soto enjoyed his time and the feeling is that he would come back if the team offered him a "fair offer":
"The notion that Soto will simply go to the highest bidder no matter what appears oversimplified, but the Yankees will certainly have to come close. From a player perspective, Soto has a responsibility to future generations of free agents to continue to push salaries upward."
Soto won't take a major discount to play for the Yankees, but they don't necessarily have to outbid the New York Mets and others to secure his services in the future.