BREAKING NEWS : Yankees Star’s Agent Drops $325 Million Hint on Price of New Deal

The New York Yankees made the largest trade of the offseason by acquiring Juan Soto, a 25-year-old outfielder who significantly boosts their star-studded lineup.

However, with Soto scheduled to enter free agency at the end of the season, the team will have to pay a high asking price if they want to keep him beyond this season, as an extension before then appears improbable. Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, reportedly intimated that the price would be modeled on the Los Angeles Dodgers’ record deal with free agency pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“Boras said he would not discuss potential dollars — but noted that Soto would be a free agent after his age-25 season and (asked,) ‘Did you see what (Yoshinobu) Yamamoto got?'” Joel Sherman wrote for the New York Post. “It was an allusion that without ever pitching an inning in MLB, Yamamoto (not a Boras client) topped (Gerrit) Cole’s $324 million pitching record contract at $325 million, in part because organizations will go to huge levels for the combination of youth and talent.”

Boras may have implied that Soto expects to earn more than $325 million on his next contract, or that he plans to break an all-time MLB record, as Yamamoto did when he became the highest-paid pitcher in baseball history.

Will the New York Yankees Make a Long-Term Deal with Juan Soto?
The Yankees and Soto previously set an MLB record by agreeing to a $31 million contract for the 2024 season to avoid arbitration.

Shohei Ohtani now holds the total MLB contract record, having received $700 million from the Los Angeles Dodgers in December 2023. Eclipsing that appears doubtful for Soto, given Ohtani is a two-way player, but he may earn more than Yankees colleague Aaron Judge ($360 million) in 2022, or even Mike Trout’s $425 million agreement with the Los Angeles Angels in 2019.

“Soto will earn $31 million this year, and it might take a $500 million-plus deal to sign him in free agency,” Pete Caldera wrote for NorthJersey.

Both Soto and the Yankees appear to be waiting to see how the 2024 season unfolds before really considering a new contract. However, owner Hal Steinbrenner did make a brief comment about the possibility of awarding the new player a larger contract than Judge.
“I’m not sure Judge would care if (it meant) we got Juan Soto for many years to come,” Steinbrenner stated, according to the New York Daily News. “But the market is what the market is and he’s going to cost what he costs.”

Based on his market worth, Spotrac estimates Soto could earn a 12-year, $408 million contract during his prime.

The New York Mets may compete with the New York Yankees to sign Juan Soto.
As Soto approaches free agency, the Yankees’ crosstown rival has emerged as an early favorite to sign him to a long-term contract.

“The (New York) Mets are not only expected to pursue, but could be among the favorites for outfielder Juan Soto when he becomes a free agent next winter,” Bob Nightengale wrote for USA Today.
Assuming the Yankees are ready to pay whatever it takes to get Soto back after the season, their best chance may be a World Series run in 2024.