"The Yankees won’t get as lucky with Juan Soto" - MLB insider feels superstar slugger won't leave money on table like Aaron Judge to stay in the Bronx
The New York Yankees signed Juan Soto at the start of the 2024 season, and he has been instrumental for them in their run to the American League pennant. Yet the Yankees will need to offer Soto a colossal sum to keep him in the Bronx for the future.
Unlike Aaron Judge, the southpaw slugger will not accept less money to play for the famous pinstripes, according to MLB insider Brittany Ghiroli.
Juan Soto is nearing the end of his one-year, $31 million deal that he signed with the Yankees last year. The Dominican is expected to be the hottest free agent in the offseason, with several big-market clubs hoping to acquire his services. Soto could well end up earning the largest contract for a position player with a long-term deal in excess of half a billion dollars.
The Athletic's Brittany Ghiroli recently discussed Soto's impending free agency:
"Aaron Judge left money on the table to stay in New York long-term," Ghiroli said. The Yankees won’t get as lucky with Juan Soto, even if they win the World Series.
"Trophies are nice, but Soto — who turned down $440 million from the [Washington] Nationals before he was traded in 2022 — has often spoken about advancing the market and pushing things forward for the next group of players," she continued.
"That’s not exactly the mindset that signifies a willingness to leave tens of millions on the table, like Judge did in turning down the San Diego Padres."
The Dominican slugger is represented by mega-agent Scott Boras, who is well-known for his ability to provide his clients with the most lucrative deals.
Juan Soto could match record-breaking contract of Shohei Ohtani
At the start of the season, Juan Soto was expected to earn a long-term deal of about $500 million when he reached free agency. However, Soto has had an excellent year for the New York Yankees, which has potentially inflated the sum closer to $600 million.
As per Ghiroli, he could even match the record-breaking figure set by Shohei Ohtani if he accepts massive deferrals like the Japanese superstar did on his contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"Multiple people told The Athletic this spring they believe Soto’s camp is after Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking deal," Ghirioli said. "Ohtani’s contract included 97 percent deferrals, but still put his present-day average annual value at roughly $43.78 million, or closer to $46 million when calculated for luxury tax purposes.
"Soto, making $31 million in his final arbitration year, could easily eclipse both those numbers and set a new record, though Ohtani’s overall number of $700 million still seems like a pipe dream unless Soto is willing to accept heavy deferrals," she added.
Therefore, Soto may be playing his final games wearing the iconic pinstripes in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, which begins on Friday.