Yankees Eye Willy Adames as Potential Juan Soto Replacement
The New York Yankees may need to develop contingency plans if they are unable to re-sign star outfielder Juan Soto. ESPN’s David Schoenfield shared predictions for each MLB team during free agency, including one that could impact the Yankees’ plans. Schoenfield believes Soto will sign a lucrative contract with the New York Mets, which would leave a significant gap in the Yankees’ outfield. To address this, he suggested the Yankees might target Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Willy Adames as a potential replacement for some of Soto’s offensive production. Schoenfield projected that Adames could be signed to a seven-year, $189 million deal.
“How might the Yankees pivot if they don’t sign Soto? His departure would leave a gaping hole in the outfield, but they also have other big holes at first base and elsewhere in the infield with Gleyber Torres a free agent,” Schoenfield wrote in his November 27, 2024, piece titled “MLB 2024-25 free agency: One big move for every team.”
“Soto is irreplaceable on a one-for-one basis, so the Yankees would use the money meant for Soto to sign multiple players. Let’s start with Adames, who would shift from shortstop to third base, which would then give the Yankees the option to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to either center field (with Aaron Judge sliding back to right) or second base.”
The Yankees Could Replace Soto with Multiple Players
Adames, who earned $12.2 million in 2024, is expected to see a significant salary increase. Spotrac estimates his market value to be a six-year, $152.2 million contract. In 2024, Adames hit .251 with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. While his numbers don’t match Soto’s, Schoenfield believes the Yankees would need to replace Soto’s production through multiple acquisitions. One drawback of Adames’ profile is his high strikeout rate.
“The Yankees have also been linked to starting pitchers, even though they have six solid starters under contract,” Schoenfield noted. “They’ll also need to re-sign or replace Clay Holmes and Tommy Kahnle in the bullpen. The big strike against Adames: He comes with a high strikeout rate and has performed poorly in the postseason in his career (.216 with two home runs in 35 games).”
Soto’s Decision Could Come Before or During Winter Meetings
For Yankees fans, the good news is that this is only a projection, and the team remains in the running to retain Soto. According to a report by the Associated Press’ Ronald Blum, Soto could make a decision as early as the baseball winter meetings, which are set for December 8-12.
“Juan Soto appears on a timetable to decide on where to sign either before or during baseball’s winter meetings in Dallas, which run from Dec. 8-12,” Blum wrote in a November 26 story titled “Juan Soto could decide on his next team before or during baseball’s winter meetings.”
“Soto met with the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays, a person familiar with the negotiations said last week, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because details were not announced,” Blum continued. “Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, asked teams to submit initial offers by Thanksgiving, a second person familiar with the talks said, also on condition of anonymity because it was not announced.”
