To the New York Yankees, Alex Rodriguez’s message is clear: sign Juan Soto now. A-Rod passionately urged this during one of his appearances on The Michael Kay Show where he called on the team to do all it takes to secure the services of Soto in a long-term deal in order not to get involved in a bidding war when he becomes a free agent.

“Don’t let him become a free agent,” Rodriguez strongly advised. “Make your best offer now, early, and just put your best chips on the table.” Speaking from experience, A-Rod understands the risks of waiting and warned that allowing Soto to explore the open market would give wealthy competitors like the New York Mets’ owner a chance to pounce with a big offer. “Steve Cohen can outbid everybody,” he cautioned.

The debate came up after Kay expressed concerns that Soto’s recent drop in velocity and ability to throw could affect his career as an outfielder. This led to speculations about whether or not the Childish Bambino would be converted into a designated hitter (DH), with implications for the Yankees’ roster, including making Giancarlo Stanton redundant. Kay even went further and suggested that if Soto settled as full-time DH, it might necessitate Jasson Dominguez’s promotion.

However, A-Rod refocused the conversation on Juan Soto’s immense value as a hitter, emphasizing his unique combination of youth, power, and consistent performance. “He’s such a unique talent,” Rodriguez remarked, highlighting Soto’s .318 batting average and potential for 50 home runs in a season. “If you prorate that when I played,” A-Rod added, “that .318 is more prorated, more like .350-.360.”

It is therefore all the more important for them to tie down Soto, who can turn them into championship contenders. A-Rod urged him to follow suit towards winning instead of earning money later on in his life. “I told him that I would take a massive haircut to come play for the New York Mets,” said Rodriguez concerning his personal decision as an unrestricted agent under Scott Boras’ supervision. “When I was 31-32, the second time around, I drove the bus. And I said, ‘Scott, I know there’s more money somewhere else; I don’t care about that. I wanna be a Yankee, I wanna be a champion, and I wanna be remembered in pinstripes.”

A-Rod’s personal journey informs his advice on Juan Soto

Rodriguez even used a romantic analogy to emphasize his point: “I always say, if you’re dating a girl that you love, then you wanna marry her; don’t let her become a free agent.” His message resonated with Kay, who acknowledged the prestige of playing for the Yankees compared to their struggling crosstown rivals.

Kay also asked Rodriguez why he chose money over playing for his dream team from childhood, the Mets. While growing up, he acknowledged Boras (who also represents Juan Soto) as his representative who held financial advantages over other considerations. Still on this matter, though, he emphasized how much later on he took charge of things by focusing on becoming victorious together with the Yankees.

This conversation underscored the intricacies of free agency, in which players must consider financial implications, their own personal preferences, and a desire to win championships. Soto’s decision may be swayed by the idea of playing with the New York Yankees, considering the history of this club.

Although Soto’s potential move to DH due to concerns about his right arm is still up for discussion, A-Rod’s target is very clear: protect Soto’s future with the Yankees. For him he is confident that Juan Soto represents a once-in-a-generation prospect who could lead them to a championship. The clock is ticking and A-Rod’s counsel is straightforward—“Sign him up, and sign him now.”