New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently addressed the potential scenario of offering slugger Juan Soto a higher salary than Aaron Judge in a prospective long-term contract, acknowledging it as a possibility he hasn’t deeply considered.
“I’m not certain Judge would be bothered if we secured Juan Soto for an extended period,” Steinbrenner remarked during an interview with Bryan Hoch of MLB.com on Thursday. “However, the market dictates its terms, and his value will be what it is. We’ll need to wait and observe.”
Judge penned a lucrative nine-year deal with the team valued at $360 million in December 2022, contrasting with Soto, whose contract is set to conclude after the 2024 season.
The Yankees orchestrated a significant trade with the San Diego Padres on December 6, acquiring the three-time All-Star. Just over a month later, Soto and the Yankees settled on a $31 million salary for 2024 to sidestep arbitration.
Although Soto may lack some of the individual distinctions Judge has accumulated, there’s a feasible chance he might command a larger contract in free agency.
At 25, Soto is younger than Judge was when he signed his deal at 30, and he has exhibited greater durability in recent seasons. Since 2021, Soto has appeared in 466 regular-season games, whereas Judge has played in 411.
Whether the 2019 World Series champion will secure a long-term deal from the Yankees remains uncertain. General manager Brian Cashman expressed doubts about retaining Soto beyond the 2024 season, stating on February 15 that “the odds are this is a one-year situation.”
“I don’t foresee many obstacles preventing him from reaching free agency,” Cashman remarked to reporters.
Steinbrenner echoed Cashman’s sentiment regarding Soto’s future with the Yankees, indicating on Thursday to the media that acquiring him, even if only for one year, was too enticing to pass up.
“Hopefully, that won’t be the case,” Steinbrenner remarked, as conveyed by Hoch.
For the time being, the Yankees will concentrate on entering the 2024 season with two of baseball’s premier hitters in their lineup, aiming to rebound from a disappointing 82-80 record in 2023 and secure a return to the playoffs.
