Yankees Hit Roadblock in Juan Soto Pursuit, Deal in Limbo Amidst Stalled Negotiations

One of the biggest stories of this offseason is the Juan Soto and New York Yankees trade saga. Though they have been linked with each other since the beginning, there are still miles to go before Soto wears the pinstripes. And if the latest reports are anything to go by, things are not really looking to fall into place. The San Diego Padres and the Bronx Bombers may have reached an impasse due to their demands. Could there be another twist in this Dominican slugger’s story?

According to a few sources, things aren’t looking good between the two teams. Both of them are quite far apart in their negotiation targets as the Padres want players Yankees can’t give. And the Bronx Bombers want a deal that the Pads find too one-sided.

The Yankees and Padres are very far in their trade expectations

Andy Martino of SNY reported that the talks have actually stalled between the two teams. He wrote, “The Padres are said to believe the Yankees are acting like the only plausible suitors for Soto. The Yankees are said to be balking at moving the highly valuable King plus many others for a one-year rental and significant cash (there is no expectation that Soto will sign an extension prior to hitting free agency).”

According to a Padres source, the team is not only looking for prospects like Michael King and Drew Thorpe but they also want 4 or 5 more high-rated players for Soto. The Bronx Bombers have already ruled out Jasson Dominguez and Anthony Volpe. This could turn into a big hurdle as the Toronto Blue Jays have joined the negotiation table.

But the Blue Jays have made things murkier for the Yankees. The Blue Jays, unlike most teams, can afford Soto’s salary. This could be the moment they have been waiting for long.

According to Martino’s sources, the talks can start again soon, but both teams are waiting for some other market activities before getting on the table again. The Yankees are already talking to Cody Bellinger. However, the Bronx Squad could want both Bellinger and Soto. One wonders how that’ll pan out.

How can the Soto saga pan out?

While the Yankees are big favorites, things can always go south or north in this case. Blue Jays can sweep in to capture Soto due to the abundance of pitchers and young prospects that they possess. They’re already in the Ohtani race, so this could be a strong backup for them.

Or the Yankees can offer up strong prospects to the Pads. Though the hopes of Soto extending his contract are quite low, they can take a risk. They’d require to part ways with at least Michael King in that regard.

Read more: Amidst Juan Soto Deal, New York Yankees Firmly Shut Down Talks Involving Derek Jeter’s Successor and ‘The Martian’

With this, the Soto saga has reached another twist. How long until a decision is reached?

Watch this story: ESPN Insider Drops Bold Juan Soto Predictions: Fans Eagerly Shout ‘Yankee’ With 100% Confidence