Los Angeles – When Juan Soto takes the field before his Bronx debut, he runs to his spot in right field and gets the crowd going. As amazing an actor as he is a hitman, he raises his arms and implores the home fans sitting directly behind him to bring the power of animation. Sometimes he joins the crowd by signing baseballs. And after his first call from the white creatures, he responded by bowing to them. However, most days he puts his arms over his head and makes a heart shape when he hears his name being sung.
It’s all love for Soto and the Yankees as they prepare to face the Dodgers in the World Series.
“I feel like they are. They make it really easy for me,” Soto said Thursday, when asked why he was a good fit with the Yankees. “They really welcomed me, they were really nice, and how they treated me and how they made me feel when I walked into that clubhouse in spring training. They made it easy for me. I think they’re a big part of this, and that’s why I feel really comfortable where I’m at and how happy I am right now.”
Friday’s Game 1 also happens to be Soto’s 26th birthday, and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a win and a leg up over Los Angeles. Winning is what Soto loves most, and it will be at the top of his list of priorities when he explores free agency this offseason as well.
At Soto’s best, he helps the Yankees win the Fall Classic with as many at-bats as he had in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series in Cleveland, and he hits the market with his rising stock. We know he turned down a reported $440 million in 2022 from the Nationals, the team that signed him to the Dominican Republic and later won a World Series with him, not long before he was traded to the Padres. Entering this season, it was widely believed that Soto could command a contract worth at least $500 million. He then posted career highs in bWAR (8.8) and OPS+ (178) for a full season.
Don’t be surprised if Soto’s total contract value exceeds $600 million this winter.
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“I would say Scott [Boras] He’s been doing a great job of not making it difficult for me,” said Soto. “He was taking all the bullets and everything. I’m focused on playing baseball right now. That’s what I’ve been doing since day one, just focusing on baseball, and whatever comes with it [free agency]I just let him go [handle] it.”
All of this begs the question, what is the best situation for the Yankees? Of course, they want to win the World Series with Soto in the only season he is sure to be in the pins. But that wouldn’t make their talks with him this winter any easier. In fact, if he wears a second World Series ring as he visits ballparks and meets with team owners during the offseason, that will only add zeros to his asking price.
One of those team owners is expected to be Mets billionaire Steve Cohen, who has a lot of cash coming off the books this winter and has indicated he will pursue a coveted free agent if he really wants to. With winning being the most important thing to Soto, the Mets recently showed the world that they can shut the noise, put their heads down, and compete until the end – their great season ended in the NLCS against the Dodgers, just. two wins shy of reaching the Fall Classic despite the fact that no one expects them to smell October baseball. The trifecta of Cohen, senior baseball executive David Stearns and promising first-year manager Carlos Mendoza should make Queens an attractive city for upcoming free agents, including Soto.
The left-handed slugger is expected to field several offers this offseason, using the big-money Mets, Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants, and possibly the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Cardinals as potential landing spots. But in the end, it could come down to a bidding war between the two teams in New York, and that should scare Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner. If Cohen really wants to go after Soto, it’s hard to imagine the Yankees beating his offer. Really, the Yankees can’t let it get down to that if they’re serious about keeping Soto in the Bronx.
The Yankees will have to make a very competitive offer to keep Soto long-term. This is not the time to play games, cross your fingers and hope Soto stays, because they traded him last winter and had a great season together. Soto has won before, and he’s been at his best everywhere he’s played. In addition, he reminded all 30 teams this past season how he can change a game with one at-bat, one swing, and send his team to the World Series. Several owners seem willing to bet the house on such a star and join the Soto sweepstakes this offseason.
Given that he is the second free youth in the history of the sport – behind only Álex Rodríguez – it is fair to wonder, aside from the obvious, what separates Soto from the rest of his peers. It starts with the dedication to his work that stands out even from other generational talent Aaron Judge.
“I think it might have been early May, we were in Minnesota, I think he might have had a couple of bad games,” Judge explained. “I saw him in the barn, he quickly appeared to be working with him [Yankees assistant hitting coach] Pat Roessler. And I was talking to him and I said, ‘Hey, what do you do? What are you doing?’ And he would say, ‘Ah, I don’t feel well. This doesn’t sound right. This is unheard of.’ And again, I look up at the scoreboard, and he’s hitting .320, 15 homers. I’m like, ‘I think he’s doing great.’
“So it’s impressive to see, even a guy like him, he looks like he’s got it all figured out, he continues to put in the work, he’s dedicated year after year. He’s one of the best players in the game, a star, and he continues to want to improve and continue to do better.”
Soto’s 10th inning in Game 5 of the ALCS in Cleveland made me wonder if he’s the most confident player at the plate in baseball right now, especially as someone who can deliver in those high-pressure situations — so, I asked Aaron . Boone.
The Yankees manager paused for a full 10 seconds before answering whether Soto was the most confident player he’s ever managed, or is currently playing in the game. He seemed to be looking for the best way to answer “yes” without disrespecting his fellow big sluggers, who are likely going to Cooperstown.
“I mean, I don’t know,” laughed Boone. “I think we have a couple of those players who are confident in what they can do. He’s one of the greatest players I’ve ever managed, but I’ve managed a few of those guys. One of the things that’s been fun for me is getting to know Juan, the person and who he is and seeing his at-bat quality throughout the year.
“I go back to the first game of spring training where there were a lot of eyes on that, and it’s like he realized early on that, I put it like, his at-bats are like battles, battles. It’s not like that. It’s not often that you see the crowd eat one ball, one hit. [like] and Juan, because he creates this theatrical battle between him and the footballer like anyone I’ve ever seen.”
It’s hard to believe that any manager would want anyone other than Soto right now when a game – a season – is on the line. For one thing, Soto’s elite plate discipline puts him on a different playing field. He never makes mistakes, and when he does, he adjusts his swing decisions within the same at-bat. Although he is still young at 26, he goes into every top situation believing in his heart that he is the best player on the diamond. Soto’s intransigence gives him the opportunity to wait for a pitch he knows he can hit. The longer the time, the higher the stakes, the more likely he is to seize his opportunity.
All of this has built the legend of Soto and made him a monument in baseball history, of course. Just remember that while he’s clearly excited to play for the Yankees and hit in front of Judge, especially since they’ve already won four games to beat everything bad, that doesn’t mean free agency is over. Some front offices are salivating at the thought of adding Soto to their roster, and if there’s a wide enough gap between those offers and what the Yankees are offering, Soto’s time in the Bronx could end next week.
In contrast his interactions with fans every night, the decision of where to sign a long-term contract and spend the next decade or so of his career won’t just be about love.
Oftentimes, the determination to win can be a business.
Deesha Thosar is an MLB reporter for FOX Sports. He previously covered the Mets as a beat reporter for the New York Daily News. The daughter of Indian immigrants, Deesha grew up on Long Island and now lives in Queens. Follow him on Twitter at @DeeshaThosar.
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