By hitting 35 home runs and achieving 105 runs batted (RBIs) in 2024, Juan Soto proved once again that he is one of the best hitters in baseball. His remarkable season also earned him a spot on the All-Star team. All these achievements made the 26-year-old highly sought-after as an agent in baseball this offseason. In the coming days, he is rumored to potentially receive a contract worth up to $600 million!

Following his remarkable performance at bat, the New York Yankees are eagerly looking forward to his return as it played a significant role in bringing the Bronx Bombers into the World Series after an absence since 2009. However, Yankees commentator Suzyn Waldman had something to say about all of this, which many might not like…

New York Yankees color commentator Suzyn Waldman appeared on ‘Maggie and Perloff’ on Friday, sharing her doubtful thoughts about Yankees spending too much on Soto. She started by appreciating the player, “I love Juan Soto. He’s 26 years old. He knows exactly who he is. He never said a wrong thing. The whole year he is really a grown up…He is really something,” before dropping the bombshell.

“What he is not is a right fielder. Are you really going to break the bank for Juan Soto and still have to put Aaron Judge in center field? And I’m not saying he did a bad job. He did a wonderful job, but he’s a gold glove right fielder. And of course he can play center. But do you want to go through that again? Have him there? Those are the kinds of things…Everybody’s so focused on Juan Soto. There’s eight other positions on that field that you can’t fill right now..it’s wonderful to have Judge and Soto. But there are other people and when you get to the playoffs, it’s always pitching. Always pitching. And mistakes made on the field. And if they don’t fill those positions correctly, then you’re going to replay what happened this year,”Waldman analyzed, essentially pointing out the Yankees’ heartbreaking 7-6 World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers (who won the 8th title).

For the unversed: Game 5 was a day full of mistakes. Errors by Judge in center, Anthony Volpe at shortstop, and pitcher Gerrit Cole failing to cover first on Betts’ grounder, helped their opponent score five unearthed runs in the fifth. Hence, the color commentator’s statement shows a real worry for teams looking into making significant investments in players such as Soto, who’s currently a free agent. Although Soto is undeniably strong offensively, and stands out as one of the batters in the league, his defensive weaknesses are a key consideration in assessing his total worth. Soto has mainly served as a fielder throughout most of his career. While he has some experience, in right field he lacks the defensive coverage and throwing power seen in other top-tier outfielders.

If you ask the Yankees management, though, they are more than willing to get their best all-around player. In 2024, he was worth every dollar. The team lost the title, but Soto impressed in the regular season hitting .288 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBIs in 157 games. He also posted a .419 on-base percentage, second in MLB to teammate Aaron Judge’s .458.

Then, in the playoffs, the 26-year-old achieved a .469 OBP, .327 average, four homers and nine RBIs in 14 games. So, naturally, Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn’t want to see the star player go: “I hope he’s here forever…I also know I’m excited for him and what the next few months are for him. But from my perspective, I couldn’t have asked for better.”

But, many also opine that adding Soto could pose a challenge for the Yankees since they already have Aaron Judge as their fielder; moving Judge. Whoever excels in right field defense to center field for Soto might compromise the team’s outfield defense and increase the risk of injuries for Judge given the demanding role of center field position. So, if not Juan Soto, who?

Favorites for Soto other than Yankees

Juan Soto spoke about his future after the Yankees Game 5 loss against the Dodgers. He said, “I don’t want to say anybody has the advantage because, at the end of the day, we’re going to look at what we have and how much they want me.” Several teams could be strong contenders for Juan Soto, especially those who are willing to spend their resources to make a significant long-term investment. As per sources, only after two hours, the players caught the interest of about eight companies.

The Padres team, led by Soto, is one of the options if they opt to extend his contract and further develop their group of players. The Dodgers are renowned for their resources and proactive approach in acquiring top-level talent players like the Dominican player, which would further strengthen their potent lineup with another player of MVP-quality caliber in the mix. Apart from these, the San Francisco Giants seem keen on bringing in a standout player for their team; this is clear from their efforts in courting players such as Aaron Judge and considering a deal with Carlos Correa that didn’t materialize as planned. Having Soto on board could potentially be a fundamental change for any team.

The competition, for Soto, is expected to be fierce as it highlights the high regard teams have for performance, even with potential defensive sacrifices, in play. In the end, the team that secures his signature will be backing one of the youngest batters in baseball and taking a risk that his advantages overshadow any perceived weaknesses. What team do you think Soto will choose in the upcoming days? Let us know in the comments.