"There’s some belief he’d prefer East Coast"- MLB insider speculates Juan Soto's possible departure from Yankees following star's surprising admission

Former San Diego Padres star Juan Soto has been a quality addition to the New York Yankees' clubhouse this season. The club and its loyal fans are happy with what he has done in the first half of this season and hope that he extends his stay beyond 2024.

There have been speculations over the player's future, where a few believe that he will extend his stay with the Yanks, while others feel that it might not turn out to be true and he might be on his way out next season as a free agent.

MLB insider Jon Heyman hinted about the star's potential departure from the club. Earlier, Soto said he would like to play alongside Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani. Following that statement, Heyman has suggested that the four-time All-Star might prefer a move to the East Coast next season.

“Soto by all accounts is loving his time in pinstripes, and there’s some belief he’d prefer the East Coast, but The Post reported he was in serious talks with the Padres last summer, then discussions were halted when late Padres owner Peter Seidler became ill,” Heyman wrote in his post.

Soto has been stellar this season, hitting .295, .985 OPS, 23 home runs and 66 RBIs. He received his fourth All-Star game call-up of his career. New York Mets were previously named as one of the front runners in the race to sign him as a free agent. However, it's too early to say anything for certain.

If he decides to test his free agency at the end of this season, surely there will be a lot of suitors.

Juan Soto hints at his desire for a long-term deal amid his incoming free-agency next season

Juan Soto hinted at his desire for a long-term deal. Throughout his career, he played for three different clubs and has been a part of those past franchises for just a few years. However, now it seems he has been looking to stay at a club for a long time.

"It's a little uncomfortable wearing different jerseys and changing teams. I'm looking forward to wearing one for a long time," Soto said via Bleacher Report.

"If I knew the future, I would play the lottery. Nobody knows the future. At the end of the day, I'm enjoying this moment, representing the New York Yankees. ... I'm very happy to be part of (the game), but nobody knows what will happen next year," he added.

There are rumors that the star is expecting a contract worth somewhere in the range of $500 million. Only time or Juan Soto can tell where his future is.