The phrase “The devil is in the details” perfectly applies to this winter’s “Juan Soto sweepstakes.” While much of the focus has been on how massive Soto’s next contract will be, there’s more to his decision than just the money. Given that Soto is likely to sign a deal spanning over a decade, his comfort level with a team’s owner and front office will play a critical role.
Despite spending a year with the New York Yankees, Soto didn’t form a strong connection with the front office or owner Hal Steinbrenner. According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Steinbrenner met with Soto last week and, acknowledging the lack of connection from last season, is making it a priority to strengthen their relationship moving forward.
“While he loved the Judge-led clubhouse, Soto is seeking a strong rapport with whatever owner he’s partnering with for up to the next 15 seasons. And word is he felt better about Steinbrenner and the Yankees after their meeting, when MLB’s most marquee franchise also emphasized its edge over everyone else in revenue, tradition and brand,” Heyman wrote.
With Soto looking to sign a deal that makes him a cornerstone player for a team for the next 15 years, it’s completely understandable that this player-owner relationship means a lot to him. And in a decision between two similar monetary contracts, Soto is likely to lean toward the one with the owner he feels stronger about. At the end of the day, money still rules everything. If the Yankees aren’t willing to fork up the cash, it doesn’t matter how much Soto and Steinbrenner get along.
Leave a Reply