MLB insider claims "Juan Soto had conviction in his early 20s to turn down $440,000,000 from Nationals," arguing for a top-dollar deal for free agent
Juan Soto's stocks as one of the best hitters in the MLB ascended after a career-best season with the New York Yankees in 2024. His remarkable offensive output heading into free agency has all the makings of a record-breaking deal for the coveted All-Star slugger.
The Yankees along with rivals New York Mets are reported to be the frontrunners for a deal with the Dominican slugger. While many believe that a stint with the Bronx Bombers in 2024 might persuade Soto to sign a cut-price deal, renowned MLB insider Jeff Passan dismissed the notion.
In a conversation with former Yankees pitcher Corey Kluber and former Arizona Wildcat Tyler Casagrande on "The Casa de Klub" podcast, Passan said (13:50):
"If they want to be known as the Juggernaut (New York Yankees) that they are, then they have to put out the biggest offer for Juan Soto. They have to not just say, hey, you have great feelings toward us because you spent a year here and we went to the World Series and got to play with Aaron Judge, and you can be in Monument Park and you can go down as one of the greatest Yankees of all time. All, that's all well and good. But every Club has something interesting to offer.
"This is why I think, money is going to ultimately be the separator, not because Juan Soto is greedy. No. It's because he is somebody who had the conviction in his early 20s to turn down $440 million from the Washington Nationals with this specific moment in mind."
Passan's remark was in light of the 23-year-old Juan Soto reportedly turning down a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals in 2022. He was traded to the San Diego Padres in August 2022, followed by a move to the Yankees before the start of the 2024 season.
Passan also argued that It was Juan Soto's "right" to get the biggest contract in his free agency.
"You think he's not gonna try And take that orange and squeeze every little last droplet of juice out of it? Of course he is, as is his right as is his privilege and as he freaking should."
MLB insider suggests potential option if Yankees fail to bring back Juan Soto
Although the Yankees are one of the frontrunners in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Mets' spending prowess under Steve Cohen is a worrying factor for the Brox Bombers.
If the Yankees fail to bring back Soto, ESPN insider David Schoenfield suggested former Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames as an option. Schoenfield feels Adames could be moved around in the infield allowing Jazz Chisholm Jr. to take Soto's place in the outfield.