Now that Hal Steinbrenner and Juan Soto have said they’re open to discussing a new contract to keep the slugger with the Yankees long-term, the wait is on to see how it plays out.
Juan Soto is scheduled to hit free agency following the 2024 season
One thing Soto’s teammates and manager seem unconcerned about is the possibility he might have his focus diverted by any potential negotiations during the season.
“I don’t worry about that with Juan,’’ Aaron Boone said before the Yankees opened a series against the White Sox in The Bronx on Friday. “He’s fixated on winning and playing at a really high level. If and when those conversations happen, I don’t expect that to be a distraction.”
And as Steinbrenner said on a YES Network podcast Thursday, it’s unusual for him to engage in extension talks prior to free agency — and that got the attention of some of the team’s other stars.
“It’s a unique circumstance,’’ Gerrit Cole said. “It’s Juan Soto. So I get why Hal would say that. It’s a special circumstance. I don’t think I’ve ever come across it before.”
Soto has been one of the main reasons the Yankees have gotten off to an excellent start to the season and he’s fit into the team and The Bronx seamlessly.
Cole, a Scott Boras client same as Soto, said he doesn’t expect that to change if the two sides engage in talks.
“Everything tells me he takes care of dotting all his i’s and crossing all his t’s, no matter what else is going on,’’ Cole said. “I know it’s not the first time he’s had talks like this [during the season, so I’m not worried.”
Soto famously turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals in 2022 and the Padres expressed a desire to keep Soto following his trade to San Diego, but nothing came of it.
In both cases, Soto ended up being traded, which Giancarlo Stanton believes puts Soto in a good position to excel despite the spotlight of talks with the Yankees.
“I think playing for a few organizations helps,’’ said Stanton, who signed his megadeal with the Marlins well ahead of free agency. “You’ve got to come into a place and prove yourself to an organization and fan base. So I don’t think he’ll feel any more pressure. He’s not faze-able. He just goes out and plays.”
Though Stanton acknowledged Steinbrenner’s declaration that he wanted to keep Soto a Yankee “for the rest of his career” was “a big deal,” Stanton said the team’s actions this past offseason meant more.
“Just going to get him was big-time,’’ Stanton said of the move to trade five players to the Padres in exchange for one year of Soto, as well as Trent Grisham.
“I think that made it clear [Steinbrenner] wants to keep him here for a long time,’’ Stanton said. “You don’t do that for a player you consider a ‘rental.’ So he just confirmed what he already showed.”
Yankees principal owner Hal Steinbrenner speaks during a press conference at Yankee Stadium on December 21, 2022 in Bronx, New York
And Boone knows how he would like it to work out: with Soto still a Yankee.
“I certainly hope so,” Boone said. “He’s one of the game’s great players and has been awesome in our room. … He’s made a huge difference with our team and lineup, between the lines and with the way he goes about things.”
