Yankees eye 3x Silver Slugger as backup plan if Juan Soto deal falls through

It will be a massive offseason for the New York Yankees. After reaching the World Series but ultimately falling short, the club is in the middle of a championship window. The team's roster will likely look considerably different when the 2025 season comes around, as they have several unrestricted free agents whose futures remain unclear.

The top priority for the club this offseason will be to try and re-sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto. While the Yankees are considered one of the favorites to bring in the four-time All-Star, the New York Mets pose a considerable threat to land him in free agency.

According to MLB insider Jeff Passan, the Bronx Bombers could look to World Series champion Teoscar Hernandez if they miss out on Soto. While Hernandez may not be on the same level as Soto, he is a force at the plate and could be signed for a considerably cheaper contract.

Hernandez was tremendous for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 and was key in the World Series title. He earned the second All-Star selection of his career and added his third Silver Slugger Award after posting a .272 batting average with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs.

It remains to be seen where Soto will land. However, if his free agency extends long into the offseason, it could result in New York missing out on Hernandez. General manager Brian Cashman should come to a decision or timeline for their Soto pursuit before they begin missing out on some notable replacements.

The New York Yankees could gain more freedom to spend in their roster if they sign Teoscar Hernandez instead of Juan Soto

Again, Soto is in a different tier than Hernandez. However, Soto is expected to seek a contract that could reach upwards of $700 million, while Teoscar is likely to land a lucrative deal, which will be nowhere close to that price tag. This could open the door for the Yankees to spend more money elsewhere to round out the roster.

With veterans Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres becoming unrestricted free agents, New York has more roster needs than shoring up one outfield slot. Things will get interesting this offseason, particularly if Soto signs elsewhere.