Juan Soto Trade Rumors: 2 teams that could emerge as top prospects for Yankees star
The New York Yankees might fall a bit short on the budget to extend Juan Soto's contract as he's about to be a free agent next year. Soto is expected to demand at least $500 million in his next contract with the team. The Yankees might not be able to afford that, as per recent reports by Hal Steinbrenner.
So, as of now, two teams could snatch the Yankees' offensive star: The New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers. The Mets could be in line to sign Soto if the Yankees are unable to extend his contract through 2025.
Even Boomer Esiason, on the "Boomer & Gio" podcast, talked about how the Mets should invest their energy in getting Soto on their roster as soon as possible:
“Mark Vientos goes to first base, sign Juan Soto, who goes to right field, and Pete is gone,” Boomer said. “That’s pretty much the simplest thing you can do. You’re not gonna pay two guys enormous money. You have Lindor already over $30 million. Pete is gonna want over $30 million, and Soto is gonna want $45-50 million.”
The Dodgers also reportedly want Soto on their team, especially after his collaborative performance with Shohei Ohtani in the All-Star Game 2024. They both are MVP candidates this season, and Soto has already mentioned that he'd like to play alongside Ohtani one day.
Well, this could be a sign for the Dodgers to consider making an offer for the New York Yankees outfielder. Moreover, they've already handed out hefty contracts to the players in recent times, so it'd likely be just another walk in the park to negotiate their way into getting Juan Soto on the roster.
Juan Soto leads his team to victory with 4-hit performance
Juan Soto went 4-for-4 at the plate, including a pair of doubles, in a convincing 6-1 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Yankee Stadium on Friday. His second double drive to deep left-center transformed into different runs in the first game of the series.
Soto sprinted home in a scene that would remind fans of a Little League game, which delighted Yankees fans in the crowd. Soto's later double in the sixth inning set the stage for captain Aaron Judge's game-winning single, which again proved why he's a crucial offensive player.
Juan Soto has certainly made his name during his tenure with the Yankees, and he's now catching a lot of eyeballs. It will be interesting to see if he stays in New York or takes his bat elsewhere.