With the Yankees still grieving their World Series loss and a scrum of reporters peppering Juan Soto about his future, the free agent superstar insisted that a chance to win will be one of his top priorities when determining his future.
“That’s one of the biggest things,” Soto said. “You want to be part of this, even if you don’t make it to the last team standing.”
Money is also going to be a major factor, as numbers in the neighborhood of $500 million and $600 million are being thrown around now that the 26-year-old is on the open market. Still, Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, also made it a point to say that consistent contention will be a focus.
“Juan loves winning,” Boras said at the GM Meetings on Wednesday. He added that the slugger “wants ownership that he knows is going to support an opportunity to win annually.”
“His focus always was, ‘I want to know who my owner is, I want to know that we’re going to be able to win, and I want to know that besides me, there’s going to be a great number of support on the part of the owner that he has the same desire to win that I do,’” Boras continued, per SNY. “’I’m going to commit my career to it, and I want the owner to commit his resources to it.’”
Fortunately for the Yankees, they’re one of the teams that are in position to offer Soto a lump sum of cash and yearly chances at a championship (even if they’ve fallen short each season since 2009).
Better yet, Soto is already familiar with the Yankees after spending the 2024 season in the Bronx. Acquired from the Padres last offseason, Soto enjoyed one of his best campaigns hitting in front of Aaron Judge, fit in well with the Yankees’ clubhouse, endeared himself to fans, and demonstrated an ability to shine under the bright lights of the postseason.
“Playing in New York, for Juan, was really, really comfortable,” Boras acknowledged with the Mets also in pursuit of Soto. “He really, really enjoyed his teammates, the Yankee experience.”
While Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner met with Soto during the season and general manager Brian Cashman is already in contact with Boras, the agent said that his player will go through a “thorough process” after declaring himself available to “all 30 teams” following the Fall Classic. Boras, whose clients sometimes take a while to sign, didn’t want to put a timeline on Soto’s free agency.
Soto didn’t want to either when asked if he’d like to sign sooner than some of Boras’ other players.
“It’s all about the teams and how far they want to take it,” Soto said.
Earlier this week, Cashman said that the Yankees are willing to meet with Soto “as many times as he would like.”
Boras, in more words than necessary, also dismissed the idea of Soto’s contract including deferred money, per The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.
Whatever Soto’s eventual contract looks like, it will require a heavy investment from the team that signs him. Whether that’s the Yankees, Mets or another high-roller remains to be seen, but either way, Boras is ready to start negotiating on behalf of the “jewel” of this year’s free agent class.
“You have the Mona Lisa of the museum,” Boras said. “You have the attraction. You also have somebody who allows owners to win repeatedly. And when owners win repeatedly, their revenues skyrocket.”
