"Juan Soto is not twice Aaron Judge" - Ex-Marlins President claims Yankees did right by not acquiring 4x All-Star for double team captain's salary
Juan Soto will be staying in New York, however, not with the Yankees as the superstar slugger signed a record-breaking $765 million deal with the Mets on Monday.
Soto, who had a stellar 2024 season with the Yankees, hit free agency at the end of the season and was pursued by his former team with a reunion on the cards with Yankees captain Aaron Judge.
However, Steve Cohen's Mets broke the bank for the Dominican All-Star, surpassing Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Dodgers last season to set the record for largest contract in MLB history.
While the Yankees fans are seemingly heartbroken over Soto choosing their city rivals over them, former Marlins president David Samson opined that the Yankees didn't need to sign the coveted slugger by offering twice what they offered Judge in 2022.
Samson said in a conversation with CBS (8:50 onwards):
"You look at your position core, did Soto help? he did, but you don't have a bunch of schleppers in New York, these are good hitters on the Yankees. So I think the Yankees did exactly what they needed to do for their fans and for themselves.
"They went to a level that borderlined absurdity because Aaron Judge can say what he wants, 'I don't mind being the second highest paid guy,' but you bring Soto back at that number compared to what they brought Judge back at and it's twice that much. Soto is not twice Aaron Judge, he's just not and you don't want to create those type of issues."
The Yankees signed Aaron Judge to a franchise record nine-year, $360 million after the two-time AL MVP elected for free agency on the back of a record-breaking 62 home run season in 2022.
Mets and Yankees could go head to head again after Juan Soto's contract
Although the Mets triumphed in the race for Juan Soto, Hal Steinbrenner and the Yankees went toe to toe against their rivals and reportedly offered a similar deal of $760,000,000 over 16 years.
A higher AAV with a opt out after his first five years in his contract could have been the potential deciding factor for the 2024 AL MVP finalist. However, missing out on Soto means that the Yankees can focus on other free agents, especially the rotation with top names like Corbin Burnes and Max Fried available.
But just like Soto, the Yankees will face competition from the Mets for the two coveted free-agent hurlers as Cohen is reportedly looking to strengthen the rotation after their run through to the championship series this year.