The New York Yankees are prepared to spend heavily this offseason in their bid to secure superstar Juan Soto, aiming to outbid competitors across the league. As MLB’s wealthiest team, the Yankees are well-positioned financially to meet Soto’s demands, but re-signing the elite outfielder is far from guaranteed. Rivals like the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox are also aggressively pursuing the coveted free agent.
Should the Yankees fail to retain Soto, they have identified a strong alternative: Baltimore Orioles slugger. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post and highlighted by Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer, Santander would be a great fit at Yankee Stadium, thanks to his left-handed power, which plays well to the park’s right field dimensions. However, Heyman notes that Santander is strictly a contingency plan if the Yankees can’t land Soto. The risk lies in Santander potentially signing with another team before Soto’s market is resolved.
Santander, 30, has been a reliable contributor during his eight-year career with the Orioles, posting a .246 batting average, 155 home runs, 435 RBIs, and a .776 OPS. His projected market value is approximately $97 million over five years, equating to just over $19 million annually, according to Spotrac.
The race for Soto is expected to be fierce, with Mets owner Steven Cohen reportedly willing to spend whatever it takes to sign the 2019 World Series champion. If the Yankees miss out on Soto, securing Santander should be their next priority—if he remains available.
Leave a Reply