"Ohtani money on the way"; "Give Soto a blank check" - Yankees fans go wild as Juan Soto ends Guardians's World Series dream
The New York Yankees are going to the World Series for the 41st time and they have Juan Soto to thank for it. The All-Star slugger came up with a clutch go-ahead home run in ALCS Game 5 to help the Yankees over the line against resilient Cleveland Guardians on Saturday.
With the game tied 2-2, Juan Soto struck a three-run home run in the 10th inning to give the Yankees the advantage at Progressive Field. Closer Luke Weaver finished the job as the Yankees clinched the AL pennant, sealing a World Series berth for the first time since 2009.
Yankees fans went wild after Soto's heroics in the Yankees' ALCS triumph.
" As far as I’m concerned just give Soto a blank check and let him fill it out," wrote a fan.
"More like 500 million, Ohtani money on the way," a fan wrote alluding to Dodgers star's 700 million contract.
"Hard to imagine he'd get $700m for 10 like Ohtani since he's not also an ace pitcher but I wouldn't even say Soto was overpaid if he did get Ohtani money. Dude is surgical at the plate," wrote another fan.
Although Juan Soto is heading to his second World Series, first as a Yankee, the Dominican slugger will be hitting free agency at the end of the season. He is expected to attract a deal over $500 million in the offseason according to several reports.
Yankees teammate shares his offer for Juan Soto in free agency
For the uninitiated, Shohei Ohtani signed a record-breaking 700 million deal in the offseason on a 10-year deal for the Los Angeles Dodgers. If Soto adds a second World Series ring to his resume, having already starred in the Washington Nationals 2019 Fall Classic triumph, his price could rise further in the offseason.
Juan Soto's Yankees teammate Jazz Chisholm Jr. thinks the team should offer the same deal the Dodger tabled for Ohtani.
He said:
“I think we should re-sign Soto! $700 million! Final offer.”
Soto's impact for the Yankees in his first season at Bronx is there for everyone to see and a multi-million deal to set a franchise record could be on the cards in the offseason.