MLB analyst argues Yankees "already paying" Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Carlos Rodon makes Mets favorites to acquire Juan Soto

The New York Yankees' bid to retain Juan Soto may fall short, as the club is dealing with multiple high-value contracts. Adding another player of Soto's caliber could hinder their ability to address other key positions that need attention this offseason. Meanwhile, Steve Cohen's Mets are in a much stronger position in that regard.

That's why MLB analyst Don La Greca believes the Yankees may not be well-positioned to re-sign Soto. Even if they do, he thinks the team might not end up with a well-rounded roster.

"He's not the perfect player, and there are other holes to fill," La Greca said on 'The Michael Kay Show" (8:15 onwards of the video below). "So, you're going to reach a point where it's like, 'Alright, now we're in a stratosphere where we’re not better off if we do this.' That’s logical, right?

"There’s an amount where you say, 'Alright, it’d be great to have Juan Soto back, but I think we’ve done more damage than good here because where are we going to fill the rest of our holes with this kind of contract?' You're already paying Cole, already paying Judge, already paying Stanton, already paying Rodón."

According to Spotrac, the Yankees' current payroll is already $193.22 million. After accounting for projected arbitration contracts, the payroll is expected to balloon to $229 million. If the Yankees re-sign Soto, they could easily surpass the luxury tax threshold, jeopardizing future draft picks and incurring additional penalties.

Don Le Greca believes the Mets' owner will go as deeper as required in his pockets to sign Juan Soto

MLB: Game One-New York Mets at Atlanta Braves - Source: Imagn

Another top contender to sign Juan Soto is the New York Mets, whose owner Steve Cohen won't mind splurging to get a bonafide star.

During the same segment on "The Michael Kay Show," Don La Greca said that although the Mets could lose future draft picks, Cohen might still go all in for Soto.

"Now, I don’t know if the Mets get there," Le Greca said. "If they want him, they can just continue to dig deeper. That’s the scary thing.

"Is there a point where even if Stearns says, 'Listen, co-boss, this is beyond baseball here — the amount of money we’re paying for this guy, the draft picks we’re going to lose, possibly passing the threshold '— what if Cohen says, 'I don’t care, I want him. This is why I bought the Mets. This is why I’m here, for moments like this'? If it gets to that point, Michael, then how do they not get him?"

According to Spotrac, the Mets' current payroll is $123.25 million, and after arbitration, it is expected to rise to $153 million. That's a significant amount of money, which is why La Greca believes the Mets will win the Juan Soto sweepstakes.