This could give New York Yankees fans hope that their most favorite player will remain in the Bronx for years.
According to The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty, he had a meeting with team owner Hal Steinbrenner in July at Yankee Stadium, a previously undisclosed event.
A source revealed to The Athletic that the meeting was about his experience with the Yankees so far. They discussed how he has enjoyed his time and what the team could do to improve the experience for a player new to the organization. “It was good to get to know the owner,” Soto shared in an interview with The Athletic. “To see what he’s thinking about me and everything.”
Soto also expressed his excitement over the Yankees clinching the AL East title, saying, “It’s really special for me… it was one of the goals we set at the beginning of the season.”
The Yankees acquired Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres before the 2024 season in exchange for pitchers Michael King, Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe, Randy Vasquez, and catcher Kyle Higashioka.
Soto is having an impressive season in his walk year. Heading into Friday’s game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, he boasts a .288 batting average, a .990 OPS, 41 home runs, 108 RBIs, 128 runs, and a 7.9 WAR. “I think anybody would want to be in the Yankees’ history books,” Soto said, aiming to contribute to the team’s legacy even if he’s only there for one season. “At the end of the day, you never know if you’re going to be here.”
Soto could have been on track for his first MVP award if not for Aaron Judge’s extraordinary season. Both Judge and Soto have hit 40+ home runs, placing them in elite Yankees company.
Before their July meeting, Steinbrenner also spoke with Soto during spring training. Soto appreciated Steinbrenner’s engagement, saying it’s great to have an owner who cares for his players.
Soto’s next contract could surpass $500 million but may fall short of Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Athletic’s Tim Britton estimates Soto’s contract could land around 14 years and $560 million.
In May, Steinbrenner expressed his desire for Soto to stay with the Yankees for the rest of his career. While deals during the season are rare for both Steinbrenner and Soto’s agent Scott Boras, Steinbrenner acknowledged Soto’s unique talent and the importance of ensuring the Yankees are a long-term fit for him.
Soto’s decision to turn down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022 has paid off, as he is expected to earn at least $100 million more than what the Nationals initially proposed.
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