The New York Yankees are heavily involved in the pursuit of Juan Soto, with bids for the superstar outfielder reportedly surpassing $600 million and still climbing. Soto is expected to make a decision in the coming days, and the Yankees remain one of the top contenders. They might also aim to make a dual splash in the offseason, similar to the Dodgers’ strategy last year when they signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees could potentially pursue both Soto and top free-agent pitcher signaling their ambition to bolster both their lineup and pitching staff.
Jon Heyman reported via Twitter/X that the Yankees, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Giants, and Orioles are among the top contenders for Corbin Burnes, adding that the Yankees might try to land both Burnes and Juan Soto this offseason, though they would likely need to cut costs elsewhere to make it feasible. While this scenario is intriguing, it remains highly unlikely. Soto is projected to command a contract in the $650 million to $700 million range, while Burnes is expected to sign for between $180 million and $250 million. Combining these deals could total approximately $890 million.
To make this work, the Yankees might adopt a strategy similar to the Dodgers, incorporating deferred payments. While Soto reportedly opposes deferred money in his deal, Burnes might be open to it. This approach could allow the Yankees to manage the financial strain and potentially sign both stars within a short timeframe. However, if the Yankees secure Soto, the Mets are expected to pursue Burnes aggressively, leveraging Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend big. Outbidding Cohen and the Mets for both players would be a daunting challenge for the Yankees.
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