Yankees' Juan Soto on upcoming free agency: It's not all about the money
Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) speaks during World Series media day at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 24, 2024. Credit: Newsday/William Perlman
LOS ANGELES
Two years ago, Juan Soto sat in the same spot he did on Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium, but at that point, he was wearing a Nationals uniform for the All-Star Game festivities.
His uncertain future dominated the discussion back then, and two weeks later, Soto was traded to the Padres, triggering the Butterfly Effect that ultimately landed him back at Chavez Ravine on the eve of the World Series — but as a member of the Yankees now.
“I remember the All-Star Game,” Soto said during Thursday’s World Series media session. “That was crazy. It was hot then, too.”
Not just the blazing SoCal sun, either. Soto could’ve been talking about the spotlight he’s been under ever since, and it’s going nuclear in these final weeks before free agency, with the potential $600 million slugger at the center of a Yankees-Dodgers World Series.
Against that backdrop, Soto sat at his podium and deftly fielded nearly 45 minutes of questions that mostly focused on “The Decision.”
After seven months of similar interrogation, his responses come from muscle memory now. But sitting on the brink of a World Series can be intoxicating, and if you sifted through some of his answers, there were hints that Soto could easily see himself in a Yankees uniform well beyond this year.
The determining factor surely will hinge on how much Hal Steinbrenner is willing to pony up this winter, and with Mets owner Steve Cohen expected to be involved in the bidding, it wouldn’t be all that surprising if Soto’s price tag winds up in the $600 million range.
We still don’t see him touching Shohei Ohtani’s record $700 million, only because the Japanese star’s two-way skill set, along with his unmatched sponsorship appeal in two countries, puts Ohtani in his own cash-generating category.
But the Yankees aren’t in this World Series without Soto, and he’d have a tough time finding a more perfect vehicle to get him here, paired with the American League’s most dangerous hitter in Aaron Judge, the presumptive MVP. With all the recent talk lately about the Yankees’ family atmosphere and a tight-knit clubhouse that helped forge the bonds for this playoff run, those can be ancillary draws for a free agent when the money is right.
“This group has been unbelievable,” Soto said. “I think it’s just amazing how we get along together, how we have fun every moment. It’s definitely one of the most fun years I’ve ever had.”
While Soto has appeared comfortable in the Bronx and certainly has enjoyed the fans’ nightly affection — from the Stadium roll call to his interaction with the Bleacher Creatures — it’s impossible to gauge how big a percentage, if any, that will play into his calculations. But when Soto was asked Thursday if his next team will be determined solely by the highest offer, down to the penny, he hedged some.
“Definitely every player wants to be happy where they’re at,” he said. “And at the end of the day, whenever you win, you’re going to be really happy. So wherever you are that you have a chance to win a championship, you’re going to be excited to play for them. I think that’s the biggest thing. That’s the biggest mindset right now. See where’s the best chance for that and go from there.”
The Yankees have a couple of advantages in that regard. One, Soto still is in their uniform. And two, they’re in the World Series. Not much arm-twisting necessary on that front. But Soto’s teammates also haven’t been shy when it comes to their own in-house recruiting efforts, with plenty campaigning for the Yankees to pay the man.
“He’s been a great Yankee because he’s a generational player,” said Giancarlo Stanton, a former MVP with his own $325 million contract. “He’s great, period. The Yankees are the mecca of baseball, and he’s right where he needs to be. There’s no stage too big for him.”
This October, Soto has grown in stature as the stakes get higher. After hitting a career-high 41 home runs with a .988 OPS during the regular season — no easy feat for a Bronx debut — Soto went deep three times during the five-game ALCS, driving in six runs with a 1.373 OPS. He also personally eliminated the Guardians in Game 5 with his three-run homer in the 10th inning, grinding down reliever Hunter Gaddis during the seven-pitch battle.
Soto’s epic at-bat already is the stuff of October legend. But for him and what he’s targeting in the weeks and months ahead, you get the sense that he was just warming up with Cleveland. He doesn’t believe he’s made his mark when it comes to his Yankees legacy despite all he’s done to get them back to the Fall Classic for the first time since 2009.
“Not yet,” Soto said. “One more step to go, and that’s winning the World Series. I think that’s one of the things that people never forget. You can be the best player. You can do whatever you want. But at the end of the day, people remember you because you won a World Series and what you did for that community. I think that’s a big part of it.”
Soto already has a ring. He won it with the Nationals in 2019, then rejected their 15-year, $440 million contract offer three seasons later, resulting in his trade to the Padres.
If not for all that, maybe Soto isn’t back at Dodger Stadium on Friday — on his 26th birthday — to try for another title, just as he and the Yankees planned it.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.