The New York Yankees will not allow their disappointing 2023 to see a repeat. Looking at Juan Soto's trade details suggests they are going all in now and pulling all the cards to surround the squad with the best of the best.
The trade saw outfielder Soto get shipped to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres.
The New York-based team had to unload several players to get the three-time All-Star. They let go RHP Michael King, RHP Drew Thorpe, RHP Jhony Brito, RHP Randy Vásquez, and C Kyle Higashioka.
It was a delicate trade, especially with Juan Soto's salary expected to balloon after the next season.
Juan Soto Salary
Soto entered Major League Baseball in 2018 and instantly showed that he is the type of player that should get paid handsomely.
His former teams tried to do that, although he declined.
With the Washington Nationals in 2021, he was offered a 13-year, $350 million contract extension, but he and his agent declined as they decided to wait to become free agents. They settled with a $17.1 million contract in March 2022 to avoid arbitration.
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He was offered a new 15-year, $440 million contract extension but still rejected it.
He was eventually traded to the San Diego Padres and signed a one-year, $23 million contract to avoid arbitration again.
Soto is just 25 years old, and the Yankees may be the one to lock him up for several years.
His agent, Scott Boras, is giving hints that the Soto-Yankees partnership won't be short.
"When you're a great player, you're a professional, and you always hope that wherever you're at, you have a chance to win and a chance to play well," he said.
"Certainly, at this level with those kinds of players, that's where players end up - because the teams inquiring know that they have to make a substantial investment in them now and in the future."
Juan Soto salary addition to the Yankees roster puts the Yankees payroll at $290 million for 2024. Getting the outfielder to stay might be a problem, but the Yanks will cross the bridge when they get there.
What is the Yankees' plan for Soto?
Soto will join a club with an established Aaron Judge superstar. Another newcomer to the Yankees is Alex Verdugo, who they traded for with the Boston Red Sox.
The projected Yankees line-up might see Verdugo play left field, Judge at center field, and Soto in the right field.
Mecca of Baseball plans
Soto is just the first of the many pieces the Yankees will try to move and bring to New York as the club eyes becoming the Mecca of baseball.
General manager Brian Cashman credits this plan to former principal owner and managing partner George Steinbrenner, who built the Yankees during his time.
"We certainly want to try under the Steinbrenner leadership to make this the mecca of baseball," Cashman said after the Soto acquisition.
"George Steinbrenner always felt that the best players in the world should play here for the New York Yankees."
"Hal Steinbrenner and Jenny and Jessica have continued those efforts. Juan Soto is the latest example of that, of their efforts to try to bring the greatest, most talented baseball players the world can provide to play and call home here in the Bronx."
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