“Juan Soto will want to beat Shohei Ohtani’s present-day value” - MLB insider believes Yankees star will pursue the highest offer

The speculation surrounding Juan Soto's future with the New York Yankees continues to grow as the Yankees gear up to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

The star outfielder was acquired by the Yankees last year with only a year remaining on his contract. He will have to make a decision on his future regardless of how the season pans out. On his podcast "Fair Territory," MLB insider Ken Rosenthal believes that Soto will pursue the highest offer even if he wins the World Series with the Yankees this year:

“Juan Soto will want to beat Shohei Ohtani’s present-day value. ... If the Yankees pay the most money, he will be a Yankee. It's as simple as that.”

Juan Soto started his major league career with the Washington Nationals in 2018 after signing as an international free agent in 2015.

He has since grown into one of the most exciting players in the league, making four All-Star appearances and winning several individual awards. Soto was traded to the San Diego Padres in 2022 before he was acquired by the Yankees in the final year of his contract.

With his contract ending this season, there'smuch speculation about his future and whether he will remain with the Yankees. Having rejected a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nationals in 2022, it's clear that Soto is looking for a huge contract. However, it remains to be seen if Hal Steinbrenner will be willing to outbid potential offers from other competitors to secure Soto's future with New York.

Rosenthal believes that Juan Soto will want to beat Shohei Ohtani's present-day value, which is somewhere between $40-50 million a year, and he would want it to be long-term. Given those figures, it remains to be seen which team offers the biggest contract and gets the upper hand in signing him for next year.

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Yankees manager Aaron Boone hoping to have Juan Soto with the team next year

After Juan Soto's decisive performance in the ALCS helped the New York Yankees book their place in the World Series, manager Aaron Boone was full of praise for the Dominican star:

"I've loved every second of him being here. Hopefully he's here a long time."

Having played a huge role for the Yankees in the regular season and subsequently helping them to the World Series, it's clear that Boone wants Soto to remain in New York. However, it remains to be seen if the ownership can make an offer which will convince him to extend his contract with the Yankees.