The Yankees were all set to go after Juan Soto in the 2023 off-season until Soto’s agent dropped a bomb on Wednesday. Scott Boras, the “Super Agent” of the MLB, handles Soto’s agency decisions. Boras hinted that the Padres are likely to keep Soto around till the next season. However, given the team’s current financial condition, it sounds like an empty promise to keep at this point.

According to an insider report, the Soto trade is likely to happen, despite the ongoing rumors of the Padres shutting their door down on him. They cannot afford their projected payroll for the next season while dealing with an arbitrated contract with Soto at this moment. The news around this prospective trade might reek of uncertainty as of now; however, the facts state that the Padres won’t be able to hold on to Soto much longer. Is this the chance for the New York Yankees to make an offer to the Padres that they won’t be able to refuse?

The Padres’ Juan Soto predicament

ESPN columnist and MLB insider Jeff Passan stated that trading Soto is the only rational option available for the Padres. The team had a $255 million payroll this year. They are all set to notch down a good $50 million for the next season. Soto’s arbitration contract for 2024 is predicted to be around $33 million; that, along with their pre-existing loan of $50 million taken out this season, will not help the Padres cut their cost down to $200 million in just a year.

Passan suggests that the Yankees, Cubs, and Mariners possess the type of near-MLB-ready starting pitching that the Padres are seeking. However, he notes that Chicago and Seattle are unlikely to trade these pitchers.

The Yankees have never skimped out on paying their players well worth their salt. Take their $300+ million Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole deals, for instance. Soto’s previous team, the Washington Nationals, previously offered Soto a $440 million deal. He refused it based on looking out for better prospects.

“Yes, they made me the offer a couple of months ago, before the strike we have in baseball,” Soto revealed in a 2022 ESPN digital interview; “But right now, me and my agents think the best option is to go year by year and wait for free agency,” the outfielder added.

Now that the free agency season is here, his agents are telling a different story. If Soto is wise enough, he will choose to side with a team that can give him both the remuneration and the recognition that he deserves.

The New York Yankees’ stake in the Soto trade

All things considered, the New York Yankees’ hunt for Juan Soto might end sooner than expected. The Padres already have six high-value players locked down with a no-trade clause. That includes Manny Machado ($327 million/10 years) and Fernando Tatis Junior ($317 million/11 years). Keeping Soto on the team does not feel like a feasible option given his $33 million arbitration price.

Read More: If Anthony Rizzo Leaves in the Juan Soto Trade, Can the Yankees Resurrect a Struggling $325M Outfielder at First Base?

Juan Soto is projected to receive a $300+ million deal from any of the contending teams. The New York Yankees hold the greatest stakes in securing the slugger with their deep pockets. If the deal goes through, the Yankees will have a good chance of elevating their place next season. Let’s see what 2024 holds for the Yankees’ fate.

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