Hal Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees, made it clear that securing Juan Soto for the 2024 season is a top priority. Speaking at the MLB owners’ meetings, Steinbrenner acknowledged Soto’s key role in the Yankees’ success, especially his contributions that helped lead them to the World Series. Steinbrenner emphasized that the Yankees are ready to pursue Soto aggressively, similar to the way they went after Aaron Judge two years ago, although it could cost even more than Judge’s $360 million contract.
Earlier this week, Steinbrenner led a group of Yankees executives, including GM Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, to meet with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, in Southern California. While the specifics of the meeting were not fully disclosed, Steinbrenner described it as an open and productive discussion. Soto reportedly inquired about the Yankees’ player development system, a topic he was not entirely familiar with. Steinbrenner expressed his desire to build a closer relationship with Soto, similar to the strong bonds he has with key players like Gerrit Cole and Aaron Judge.
Steinbrenner was cautious about predicting the outcome of the pursuit. He acknowledged that the Yankees face stiff competition from other teams like the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Blue Jays, and Phillies. Mets owner Steve Cohen’s financial power is a particular concern for Steinbrenner, and he admitted that the competition for Soto’s services will be intense. While Soto clearly enjoys New York, the possibility of him joining the Mets, with their considerable resources, adds another challenge to the Yankees’ efforts to secure him.
From a financial standpoint, Steinbrenner expressed confidence in the Yankees’ ability to sign top players, as significant contracts, like those of Gleyber Torres and Anthony Rizzo, will soon come off the books. He noted that the team is in a stronger position this year compared to last. However, Steinbrenner acknowledged that maintaining payrolls at current levels and managing luxury taxes is not sustainable for most teams, including the Yankees, in the long run. Despite these concerns, he reiterated that the Yankees have the financial capacity to make any move necessary to improve the roster.
While Steinbrenner refrained from speculating on whether Soto was primarily motivated by the highest bid, he expressed his belief that Soto enjoyed his time with the Yankees and had developed strong relationships with key figures such as Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone. Ultimately, Steinbrenner stated that the decision would be up to Soto and his family. If Soto were to sign with another team, especially the Mets, it would be a significant blow for the Yankees, both emotionally and strategically.
