The New York Yankees are back to their winning ways behind the strong performance of superstar outfielder Juan Soto.
The Yankees traded for Soto in the offseason, despite a looming free agency that will likely be among the most expensive in baseball history. But could Soto decide to sign a deal with New York during this season to put an end to all the speculation?
Not if you ask Chris Rose of Talkin’ Baseball.
Says Rose, “There’s no way he’s signing during the season. If he signs an extension during the season, I will do a show shirtless.”
Co-host Trevor Plouffe pushed back, saying “I think there’s a chance he signs during the season.” When asked why, he responded “If he likes it there and the Yankees meet his demands. They’re going to try to talk to him, Chris. They’re going to say ‘what do you want?’ And if they go, ‘Okay,’ what’s the point?”
While there is an advantage for a player like Soto to wait until free agency in order to maximize his value as various team’s bid on his services, there is a certain school of thought that points to the minimized risk of signing mid-season with the Yankees. Injuries, slumps, and anything else that could potentially affect his value are taken out of the equation in that instance.
Yankees return to winning ways in 2024
With the addition of Soto, the Yankees are having a bounce back season so far in 2024.
Having Soto and Aaron Judge in the lineup is a luxury every MLB team would love to have. Recently, rival executives were asked which player was more important to the Yankees, and the results were mixed.
“Judge … because he is the Yankees,” one National League executive said. “He’s the guy they know is going to be there forever, and although they hope the same for Soto, they don’t know yet. I think if Judge plays well, that team rolls. When he doesn’t, they don’t. But there are 29 other teams in the league that would love to have that question on their roster!”
“I would go with Soto,” another NL executive said. “He takes the pressure off of everyone else in the lineup — especially Judge — by getting on base, but also having the ability to drive in the people that get on in front of him. It also helps that he is in a contract year.”
The team currently sits at 15-8, which puts them in a tie with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East. The Yankees had a chance to maintain sole possession of first place on Monday but fell to the Oakland Athletics 2-0 in a matinee game.
During that contest, Yankees manager Aaron Boone was ejected after just one batter. Boone expressed his displeasure with home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt after Esteury Ruiz was ruled to be hit by a pitch. New York’s skipper thought that the A’s outfielder went around on a swing and should therefore not be awarded first base.
Wendelstedt warned Boone that if he said anything else, he would be ejected. Boone did not respond, but a fan behind the Yankees’ dugout did, and the umpire tossed Boone regardless.
The two teams are back at it on Tuesday.
More must-reads: