Mary DeCicco/MLB Pictures through Getty Pictures
A sensible man as soon as mentioned, “you get what you pay for.”
This offseason, the eyes of the baseball will likely be on free agent Juan Soto and precisely how a lot the successful bidder pays for the 26-year-old All-Star who slugged the New York Yankees to the World Collection with a tenth-inning residence run Saturday evening in Cleveland.
The New York Publish’s Jon Heyman reported the brand new “whisper quantity” for Soto is $600 million. That may make it the second-highest contract within the sport’s historical past behind Shohei Ohtani’s huge $700 million deal signed final 12 months.
A unicorn of types in that he’s a free agent within the prime of his profession and coming off the very best season of an already acclaimed profession.
Soto delivered profession highs in residence runs (41), hits (166), and runs (128). These 128 hits additionally led the American League.
That he got here by way of with the largest hit of his Yankees tenure when the group wanted it, cashing their ticket to the World Collection and giving the Bronx Bombers their first alternative to compete for probably the most coveted prize in skilled baseball, solely accentuated how important a 12 months he has had and the way a lot he’ll command when he hits the market.
New York Yankees @Yankees
Could we as soon as once more re-introduce, The Generational, Juan Soto. pic.twitter.com/6R5fWpEg6I
The New York Yankees will determine to have the within edge on retaining Soto’s providers for years to return however won’t be with out competitors. ESPN’s Buster Olney has already expressed his perception that the right-fielder will signal with the across-town Mets on his Baseball Tonight podcast.
USA At present’s Bob Nightengale reported that the Phillies are anticipated to bid on Soto, too. As are the Toronto Blue Jays.
There will likely be loads of groups which can be shut on cash or outright have the funds to make the deal occur and, if Heyman’s reported quantity is in actual fact the start line for any deal that Soto places pen to paper on, he may have earned each greenback of it.
In a season when he had lots to show after a stint in San Diego that didn’t go as he or possession anticipated, he excelled and has the Yankees prepared so as to add one other World Collection title to probably the most embellished group in MLB.
Whether or not the championship expertise and profession highs are sufficient to persuade Soto to return again to the Yankees, or if a high-dollar paycheck from the Mets or some other potential suitor is sufficient to lure him away, is the query.
