Juan Soto have just announced his departure today after facing

Soto is having a spectacular start in the Bronx, but it is still not certain that the Yankees will be able to retain him with a new deal. Although there is talk of a number of teams interested in his services, so far only New York teams have shown tangible signs of wanting to sign him long-term.

In the meantime, Soto is ‘letting himself be loved’, waiting for the most favorable offer possible, as he wants a contract similar to that of Shohei Ohtani, who broke the market in the winter to sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers for $700 million over a decade.

 

According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, Mets general manager David Stearns is intent on signing Soto, thanks to the fact that the team has enough room on its payroll for the upcoming offseason due to several expiring contracts, including that of starter Max Scherzer, so they will have flexibility to make big moves.

 

While the Mets sound like a real contender to sign Soto, the Yankees also have the resources to retain the talented outfielder and are waiting to see Soto’s season before opening the checkbook.

 

“The Yankees will seek to retain him and, sources inside the Mets organization have said that team also intends to make an attempt,” continues the report published Wednesday. “Agents speculate that the two big numbers for Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, are $500 million in a total package, as well as the record for any position player.

Meanwhile, the Dominican outfielder reached an MLB milestone on Wednesday when, with his fourth home run of the 2024 season, Soto reached 500 runs batted in, adding his name to those of all-time greats:

“While there could be other teams involved in the chase, all he really needs to push salary benchmarks is to be the subject of a bidding war between Yankees and

Mets.”

He is also the third player 25 or younger with 500+ RBIs, 500+ runs scored, 300+ extra-bases and 600+ bases on balls, in an even more elite group that includes Mickey Mantle and Mel Ott. He is also the seventh player in history with at least 500 RBIs and at least 500 base on balls, joining a group consisting of Mantle and Mathews, Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Mel Ott and Jimmie Foxx.