"Pay Juan Soto a little more than Aaron Judge" - Top MLB Insider urges Yankees retain Scott Boras' star client despite super agent's market pushÂ
One of the biggest storylines of the upcoming offseason will be the pending unrestricted free agency of Juan Soto. The outfielder has been enjoying a tremendous season with the New York Yankees and is undoubtedly looking to parlay that success into a lucrative, long-term contract.
Although there has been talk of several clubs looking to make a run at Soto in free agency, many believe that remaining with the Yankees might be in the best interest of everyone involved. MLB Insider Tyler Kepner of The Athletic spoke on an episode of the "Blair and Barker" show about the ongoing situation.
"It's such a good thing that he's got going here and that the Yankees have going that if they're fair to him, he should sign," Kepner said.
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After what seemed to be a difficult time with the San Diego Padres last season, Juan Soto appears to have rediscovered himself at the plate this year with the Bronx Bombers. Thanks to the high-profile move that brought Soto to New York, the outfielder has once again proven why he ranks among the best players in the MLB, which could help in contract negotiations:
"It's such a good fit. The ballpark's perfect, the fact that they win every year is perfect, Judge being there for seven more years is perfect, it's all set up... you pay him market value, let's say a little more than Judge," Kepner added.
It remains to be seen what Soto will do in the offseason, however, if the New York Yankees are committed to keeping him, they will undoubtedly need to pay up. While it's unlikely he will reach the same level as Shohei Ohtani did last offseason by signing a 10-year, $700 million deal, Soto's contract could be one of the most expensive in the league.
Experts predict Juan Soto's contract could reach upwards of $500 million
Although it was widely expected that Ohtani could command the highest contract in MLB history, when it comes to Soto, the projections surrounding his next deal are a tad less concrete. The All-Star outfielder will undoubtedly secure a lucrative contract, but the number remains a question mark for many experts.
The range of Soto's next contract has seen a number of different valuations and lengths thrown out there. Various predictions have seen Soto potentially landing a deal worth over $500 million, while others have even mentioned that it could reach up to $600 million.
It looks like it will be an exciting offseason for Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras as they look to secure one of the richest contracts in the sport's history. One of the main questions remains whether he will be donning the iconic Yankees pinstripes for next season and beyond.