The New York Yankees are serious in their pursuit of superstar free agent Juan Soto.
The Yankees completed a major trade with the San Diego Padres to acquire the four-time All-Star, and Soto lived up to expectations in the Bronx. He finished third in American League MVP voting after hitting 41 home runs, leading the AL with 128 runs scored, a .989 OPS, and 7.9 WAR. Soto also played a key role in leading the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009, forming one of the greatest hitting duos in history alongside Aaron Judge.
At just 26 years old when the 2025 season begins, Soto is widely regarded as one of the best free agents to ever enter the market.
Soto is expected to secure a contract worth around $600 million or more, potentially setting new records for both total contract value and annual average value. The Los Angeles Dodgers previously signed Shohei Ohtani to the largest professional sports contract ever—a 10-year, $700 million deal—but 97% of the money is deferred, making the present-day value closer to $450 million.
New York Yankees Enhance Initial Contract Offer to Juan Soto
To demonstrate their commitment, the Yankees have already “upgraded” their contract offer to Soto, just days after their initial proposal, as reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Heyman indicates that the Yankees are offering Soto multiple opt-out clauses in his long-term deal, with Soto reportedly seeking a 15-year contract.
“The Yankees upgraded their initial bid within the past couple of days to superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto, perhaps improving their position in a free agent sweepstakes that involves at least five big-market teams, according to people familiar with the situation,” Heyman writes.
The main competition comes from Steve Cohen and the New York Mets, who have made Soto their top priority, with the Mets’ owner seemingly prepared to make a substantial offer. Other teams pursuing Soto include the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers.
It’s expected that Soto will make his decision by the time MLB’s winter meetings begin next month.
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Yankees Eye $97 Million Silver Slugger as Contingency Plan for Juan Soto
The New York Yankees are expected to make a major financial commitment this winter as they aim to outbid the competition for superstar Juan Soto.
As the wealthiest team in baseball, the Yankees have the resources to re-sign Soto regardless of the cost. However, keeping the star outfielder is not guaranteed, with high-spending rivals like the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox also vying for the coveted free agent. Even if they fail to secure Soto, the Yankees could still land a top slugger this offseason.
“The Yankees have checked in on (Anthony) Santander, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post,” Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer wrote on Wednesday when discussing the potential destinations for the Baltimore Orioles outfielder. “He’d be a terrific fit at Yankee Stadium, as much of his power is channeled to right field as a lefty hitter.” However, Heyman also mentioned that Santander is considered a backup plan in case the Yankees are unable to retain Soto. This puts the Yankees in a similar position as the Mets, with the risk being that Santander may sign before Soto’s market is fully determined.
Santander, who has spent eight seasons with the Orioles, has a career .246 batting average with 316 extra-base hits, 155 home runs, 435 RBIs, and a .776 OPS.
The 30-year-old’s projected market value is around $97 million for a five-year deal, averaging just over $19 million annually, according to Spotrac.
With the bidding war for Soto expected to be fierce, Mets owner Steven Cohen is ready to spend whatever it takes to acquire the 2019 World Series champion. Should the Yankees fail to bring Soto back, securing Santander should be their next priority—assuming he’s still available.
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