“It’s Really Nice”: Juan Soto Not Thinking Too Much About Hal Steinbrenner’s Desire to Keep Him in New York

A new narrative is unfolding in the heart of the Bronx, where pinstripes reign supreme and legends are forged. The prodigious 25-year-old slugger acquired in a blockbuster trade last December, Juan Soto, is making waves with his bat—and his words.

While New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has admitted to openly dreaming of Soto donning the iconic uniform for the rest of his career, the Dominican outfielder is keeping his cool and laser-focused on the present.

Juan Soto’s door is open, but his focus is on winning now

“It’s really nice to see owners and GMs talking about they want me in their teams my whole life,” Soto remarked, responding to Steinbrenner’s effusive praise and desire to lock him down with a long-term extension. But don’t mistake his calm demeanor for indifference.

“But at the end of the day, I’m focusing on this year, and what we want to do in this year, and how much games we want to win, and how far we want to go.” Soto revealed to the YES Network. The winner of a World Series Ring and the three-time champion has his final year of arbitration approaching, and right now he’s all poised to command a contract—possibly one that would be deemed worthy of rewriting baseball’s financial record books.

Acknowledging the possibility of contract talks, Soto affirmed that his “door has been always open.” Yet, his message is clear: the priority right now is on the field—not the boardroom. “For me right here, I’m focusing on playing baseball. My thing is, try to help the team win.” And win, they have.

Juan Soto has slashed.302/.403/.517 in his first 45 games with the Yankees, including nine home runs and 34 RBIs. His acute eye at the bat and smooth left-handed swing have already won over the Bronx faithful, who see in him the makings of a new kind of messiah, highlighting the possibility for a new age of Yankee greatness. Furthermore, on a YES Network podcast, Hal Steinbrenner expressed his admiration for Soto without hesitation.

Steibrenner’s “generational” talent worth the investment

“We all know he’s generational, right?” Hal exclaimed. “He’s the complete package. I had no doubts he would perform here under pressure; zero doubts with that.” The Bombers’ owner, known for his measured approach, is willing to defy convention and perhaps engage in mid-season contract negotiations—a tribute to Soto’s enormous skill and effect.

“His agent, Scott [Boras], doesn’t tend to normally do deals in the middle of a season. Neither do I,” Steinbrenner stressed. “But this is a unique situation, and a very unique player.” The message is more than clear: Juan Soto is worth violating the rules for.

For a player who has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to lead the Yankees back to championship glory, Steinbrenner sees Soto as a franchise cornerstone for many years to come. But first, the squad must win the 2024 season. And the Childish Bambino, with his sights set on the goal, is willing to do everything it takes to deliver another trophy to the Bronx.

While the present appears hopeful, the future remains unknown. Juan Soto’s contract demands are likely to be enormous, given that he turned down a $440 million extension offer from the Washington Nationals for 15 years, and his future deal may potentially approach $500 million. The Yankees’ willingness to break the bank for their next superstar remains to be seen.