NY Yankees offered Juan Soto a $760 million, 16-year contract
The New York Yankees made their final offer for Juan Soto on Sunday morning and it was for 16 seasons and $760 million.
DALLAS — On Sunday morning, sometime between 9:30 and 10 a.m., the General manager of the New York Yankees, Brian Cashman, presented the organization’s final contract offer by Juan Soto. It would have been, by far, the largest agreement in the history of North American professional sports.
He soon discovered that it was not enough. That night, Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, called him to tell him that his client had agreed to sign with the New York Mets.
Cashman then participated in a conference call with Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and president Randy Levine to break the news that Soto had decided to reject the Yankees’ offer. Yankees for 16 years and 760 million dollars in exchange for a slightly larger settlement in Queens.
“Hal Steinbrenner really stepped up to find a way to retain Juan Soto and I’m certainly proud of his efforts,” Cashman said Monday. “It certainly far exceeded my expectations.”
Cashman spoke to reporters Monday at the Hilton Anatole, site of this year’s winter meetings. A few minutes later, at the other end of the hotel, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns declined to talk about Soto because the deal was not yet official.
The Mets and Soto agreed on Sunday to a 15-year contract worth $765 million with no extensions and with escalators that could bring the total to $805 million, sources told AM850. It will surpass the record $700 million contract Shohei Ohtani signed just a year ago, in total value and average annual value. The Yankees’ offer, which also did not include extensions, would have done so as well.
“I would just say Hal did everything he could to try to find a way to keep Juan Soto in the pinstripes and continue to keep him as part of our mix as we move forward and take our opportunity,” Cashman said. “But there are a lot of different ways to solve this, so we’re going to have to solve it another way.”
The decision by Soto, 26, ended a more than month-long saga that included recruiting meetings, several stages of offers and endless rumors. Ultimately, the Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers all made offers, but Soto’s choice came down to the Yankees and Mets. Cashman explained that the Yankees made their final offer blind, not knowing what others were offering, and were not given the opportunity to match the Mets. He said he didn’t know if Soto would have chosen the Yankees if they had matched their cross-town rivals’ offer.
“I’d rather he not be in the American League East,” Cashman said when asked if Soto’s departure to the Mets made the loss hurt more. “I guess, you know, pick your poison. Ultimately, listen, the Mets got a great player. So, congratulations to them.”
Soto’s decision came the day after the one-year anniversary of the Yankees acquiring Soto and outfielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres in exchange for five players, including right-hander Michael King, knowing Soto could leave. after just one season in the Bronx. Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs and finished third in American League Most Valuable Player voting as the Yankees’ right fielder before shining in October as the Yankees came within three wins of an American title. the World Series, a platform year that further ignited a heated bidding war between some of the richest franchises in sports.
“It’s not a deal we regret,” Cashman said of last winter’s trade. “He impacted us in a big way. I’m sorry we came up short in the World Series. But he, along with others obviously, played a big role in us getting to where we got, becoming American League champions in 2024.”
Without Soto, Cashman said Aaron Judge is likely to return to right field, which would give Jasson Dominguez, the organization’s top prospect, a path to start in center field. With the money previously allocated to Soto, the Yankees can turn in several directions.
The Yankees have reunited with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, the two best starting pitchers on the free agent market with Major League experience. They have expressed interest in trading for Chicago White Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet and Chicago Cubs first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger. Outfielders Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández are potential free agent targets. As does third baseman Alex Bregman.
The Yankees had also met with left-hander Blake Snell and shortstop Willy Adames before both players signed with other clubs while waiting for Soto. They will be aggressive.
“It’s not easy to find players you feel comfortable with in free agency,” Cashman said. “Normally, you have to get out of your comfort zone, but at the same time we are not going to be drunken sailors. We are going to do everything we can to try to improve the team based on our experience.”
