‘Worst Season in 3 Decades’, ‘Marred by Injuries’, “Fire Cashman” and more. These phrases sum up how 2023 was for the New York Yankees. This year’s 82-80 record brought the club to a boiling point as Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman understood the gravity of the situation. What was a fuming fanbase finally let a sigh of relief when the Juan Soto trade went through. Although he comes with a winning mentality, here’s the real deal. What can the Yankees do to sustain him in the Bronx? 

While the club contemplates possibilities about Soto, the Japanese star, Yoshinobu Yamamoto can’t be ignored. Amid endeavors to hold on to Soto, they know that he is too good to go unnoticed. Which is why Yoshi has pulled in multiple suitors, including NYY. While the fight for this MLB debutant is underway with an unmatched rigor, the Yanks contemplate whether Yamamoto would be a boon or a bane. 

Battling for the Ace, the New York Yankees’ Face Stiff Competition 

It’s key to recognize the potential concerns of bringing ‘Yoshi’ to the Bronx. While the possibility of a Yama-Soto partnership generates excitement, there are considerations that might not end with an unequivocal victory. Do not forget that the addition of Yamamoto would push the Yankees’ payroll beyond $300 million. Is Hal Steinbrenner ready for that? 

The leadership is not foreign to this financial implication. Which is why, Brian Cashman expressed in Nashville, “When there’s an opportunity to add more to the (rotation’s) front end, you’ve got to play on it.” However, the wisdom of such a move remains uncertain.

An element of that uncertainty is the Dodgers, that signed Shohei Ohtani. Thanks to the two-way phenom’s deferrals, money is not a concern for the Southern California team. Another team that poses a formidable challenge is the Mets, who recently displayed their salesmanship with their “Yamamoto Airlines” plea-campaign.

Another strong contender in the race is the San Francisco Giants. There’s proof that the team has made notable progress. A recent tweet from @Buster_ESPN mentioned, “The Giants met yesterday with pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto. He’s got a lot of big market teams bidding for his services.” These well-positioned teams present more than one brick wall for the NYY. Let’s switch gears to talking about Juan Soto for a minute.

Amid Navigating the Yamamoto Pursuit, the Yankees Try to Preserve Juan Soto’s Presence

The 25-year-old made a formal appearance as a New York Yankee for the first time in public last Tuesday. He will be seen in pinstripes upcoming spring. But there are two possibilities after next season. Either he continues in the Bronx or he strips off the pinstripes. The San Diego Padres traded him as a one-year rental, after all. In his recent talk with the media, he addressed one crucial question about his contract.

Though all through the 30-minute talk, Soto focused on wanting to focus on playing baseball, he shared his candid thoughts on the extension after the season of 2024. His words were, “They know where to call and who to talk to. I’m here just to play baseball.” This indicates that Scott Boras, who is a super agent in the MLB sphere, would not let Soto settle for anything less. That is enough evidence that the New York Yankees would have to fight for Soto again in 2025. But where does the element of Yamamoto fit in Soto’s contract extension? 

Connecting the Dots of the Yama-Soto Storyline

Though the Yankees are tempted to burn a hole in their pocket for the beloved #18 pitcher, it may not be the best of their options. Other less expensive folks for the Bronx would include Jordan Montgomery, Blake Snell and Dylan Cease. But if the Yanks were to forego all of their cost efficient options and go all out on Yamamoto, it would jeopardize their chances to extend Juan Soto. One may ask how. 

As earlier referenced, the MLB is super competitive. Every team has an eye on top players; Shohei Ohtani, Juan Soto’s free agency, was proof of the same. While it is no secret that Soto would hit free agency again after next season, the teams would start warming up to accommodate him soon after. With that, the Yankees’ chances to have him might be diluted. More so, if they already have Yamamoto onboard. 

Read More: Why Yankees’ Juan Soto Deal Is Perfect for Aaron Judge, Looking at the Superstar Slugger’s Impact

Another perspective to this situation would be, if the mega franchise spends a few $100 millions now in Yamamoto, how would they manage finances next year when Soto hit free agency? One must keep in mind that it is Scott Boras who is representing the young Dominican. And he has a reputation of getting his clients the most lucrative contracts ever. That said, the Yankees missing out on Yamamoto may actually pave the way for keeping Soto in the Bronx. 

Watch This Story: Yankees Secure A Special Gift As The Japanese Ace Makes His Way To Be A Free Agent