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Brian Cashman and the New York Yankees will do their best to retain Juan Soto for next season. The slugger is a free agent and is coming off a monster season in the Bronx.
Soto played in 157 regular-season games, hitting .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 runs batted in. He was a large part of the team's success this past season, and losing him would be a big setback.
Soto should garner interest from nearly every team in the MLB. Some insiders believe the New York Mets will be major players here, but they will not be the only ones to watch out for.
"Big-market owners with deep pockets aren't the only ones signing players to big deals. You've seen the San Diego Padres sitting out on the West Coast and they've imported a lot of big-time players," Cashman said.
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While Cohen and the Mets are certainly a party to watch out for, other teams have surprised plenty with what they have done in the offseason. Cashman mentioned the Padres and all the players they have brought in throughout the years.
"The market on a year-in-year-out basis is strong from all different aspects of the baseball universe. So, we do our best to compete with whomever on a year-in-year-out basis," Cashman said.
Cashman and the rest of the front office will do their best to retain their star slugger. However, they know they are not the only ones looking to sign the four-time All-Star.
Insiders expect a bidding war between the Mets and Yankees for Juan Soto's services
Juan Soto will, without a doubt, be the hottest free agent on the open market. He is young, teams can build around him, and he has what it takes to be a difference-maker for a cub searching for one.
However, with his projected contract of $500 million, not every team has the same chance. He will likely chase the money, and both New York teams should be in the mix here.
Both clubs are coming off successful seasons with postseason appearances. They also have big-market money to spend.
If it does come down to the Mets and Yankees, Soto would have a tough decision to make. Does he see himself finding success with Francisco Lindor, or does he want to give the Bronx bombers and Aaron Judge another shot?
