Talk about a home run for the kids! Giancarlo Stanton, the powerhouse Yankees slugger, made a major impact off the field at Estadio Hiram Bithorn in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The former NL MVP and five-time All-Star hit it out of the park with over 230 young fans at an MLB Play Ball event. With his Puerto Rican roots on full display, Stanton gave back to the community in a big way. 

The clinic, lasting a jam-packed 90 minutes, was a baseball dream come true for these kids. Stanton took the time to coach at five different stations: baserunning, hitting off a tee, slugging, throwing, and catching. He wasn’t just a bystander—he rolled up his sleeves and showed them how it’s done, even tossing some throws to lucky participants.  

In a video posted by the MLB on YouTube, Giancarlo Stanton had a chance encounter with a young Yankees fan who couldn’t resist asking the burning question on his mind: “Are you sad because Soto is now on the Mets?” Stanton, ever the pro, couldn’t help but laugh at the playful jab. With a grin, he fired back, “You wish he was with us, are you sad because he went to the Mets? We’ll be fine.” That quick wit? Classic Stanton. While Yankees fans might be feeling a little salty about the Soto-to-Mets news, the slugger’s message was loud and clear.  

At 35 years old, Giancarlo Stanton knows the clock is ticking. He’s in what could be his last few golden years to showcase his immense power and bat skills, and he’s determined to make the most of every at-bat. Last season, he played 114 games—the most he’s suited up for since 2021—a solid sign that he’s getting back to full health and reclaiming his spot in the heart of the Yankees’ lineup. With every season that passes, the stakes get higher, and Stanton is laser-focused on proving he’s still one of the best hitters in the game.

The Yankees big loss – Juan Soto  

An incredible 15-year contract worth $765 million, the biggest in Major League Baseball history, was reached between the Mets and Juan Soto. This huge contract, which was completed after Soto passed his medical, is revolutionary and raises the standard for player contracts in all sports. This unprecedented agreement offers Soto a number of significant benefits that go beyond financial gain. With a $75 million signing bonus, a complete no-trade clause, and an opt-out after five seasons, the contract gives Soto significant flexibility to retest the market if necessary.  

Did we also add that there was no deferred money? The Mets’ commitment to Soto for the long term is evident from this deal, which is as clean as it gets. However, there is a catch: the Mets will have the ability to nullify Soto’s opt-out after 2029 if they raise the average annual value (AAV) of the contract’s last ten years from $51 million to $55 million, so raising the deal’s total value to $805 million. If you thought that was spectacular, just wait until you see how it affects the Mets’ payroll. That would make Soto’s AAV $53.66 million.

The Yankees had tried their best to retain Soto, but it just wasn’t enough. According to many sources, the thing that made the Mets win and the pinstripes lose was a family suite. The Mets were ready to offer the particular suite in their home stadium but the Yanks could not offer the same. The thing about the New York Yankees was that they had never given a family suite to any of the past players, be it Derek Jeter or Aaron Judge. Giving Soto the suite would seem unfair to other legendary players. But the Mets and Steve Cohen were more than happy to provide one and they signed Juan Soto.