Juan Soto and Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner had a one-on-one meeting in July, reports Brendan Kuty of the Athletic. The four-time All-Star confirmed the conversation, telling Kuty that “it was good to get to know the owner, get to see what he’s thinking about me and everything.”
Soto didn’t provide any specifics. However, Kuty reports that the general focus of the conversation was on Soto’s experience with the team. “It’s always good to see (an owner) coming over at least to say hi,” the outfielder told The Athletic, “see how we’re doing, what we have in mind, this and that. It’s great to have an owner that really cares for players.”
Steinbrenner hasn’t been shy about his desire to keep the superstar in pinstripes. The owner said in May that he was open to in-season extension talks. Soto closed that down a few weeks later, reiterating in June that he and agent Scott Boras would wait until the offseason to worry about contract terms. Considering Soto has reportedly declined a number of extension offers throughout his career, there was never much doubt that he’d test free agency.
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The Yankees are going to face a push from the crosstown Mets and should have some amount of competition for Soto’s services from every high-payroll franchise. One meeting between Soto and Steinbrenner isn’t going to change the odds of keeping him around, but it’s presumably a bit of a preview of the months to come.
Soto has established a new career high with 41 homers during his first season in the Bronx. He leads the American League with 128 runs scored and is hitting .288/.418/.572 across 704 trips to the plate. By measure of wRC+, Soto has been 80 percentage points better than a league average batter. That’s his best mark in a 162-game schedule.
bucsfan0004
Offer him the Ohtani deal (in today’s money)…. 10 for $460M, take it or leave it
CravenMoorehead
I honestly can see him getting a $500 million dollar contract. We’ll see though. I know the Mets are going to be all in as well and with Boras as his agent it’s going to get interesting.
This one belongs to the Reds
Or he will hold up the market for the few FA players until spring training again.
Joe says...
Cohen will blow that offer away.
Carl Winslow
COHEN IS A CRIMINAL (literally).
If he was on the mean streets of Chicago I’d teach him a lesson!
Make him humble.
– Officer Carl Winslow
HalosHeavenJJ
Cohen has almost committed enough fraud to run for office.
MLB Top 100 Commenter
What do Officer Carl and the Chicago White Sox have in common? Pretty much everything.
WINS-LOW
cainer18
Top notch Bazinga right there
unpaidobserver
not sure “take it or leave it” is anything theyre approaching soto with at this moment…
Carl Winslow
I wish Soto would sign with the White Sox but that isn’t happening. He’s a fine young man who’s probably going to get a $600 million dollar contract. Best part is the Yankees won’t have to worry about secretly working with Manfred to bury his gambling addiction from the public like last year’s best free agent.
– Carl Winslow
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Who would even be sane enough to think of Soto and the white Sox in the same sentence?
its_happening
Carl is south side’s finest. Whole Winslow clan lean White Sox over the Cubs.
Carl Winslow
its_happening,
Thank you for those kind words. I hope you’re enjoying this wonderful September Friday night.
– Officer Carl Winslow
8======D (Carl Winslow)
White Sox love Carl so much they decided to keep their wins low.
Carl Winslow
“White Sox love Carl so much they decided to keep their wins low.”
8======D,
Not gonna lie…I laughed so hard at this that I spat Colt 45 malt liquor all over my autographed 8×10 framed photo of Ron Karkovice.
Best regards,
– Carl Winslow
8======D (Carl Winslow)
m.youtube.com/watch?v=LCe1WsjFp3Y
Carl, don’t do this to yourself. You already told Eddie about the troubles of drinking. And now you’ve graduated to signed pictures of Ron Karkovice? What’s next?
This one belongs to the Reds
Urkel is a Cubs fan. That’s where it all started.
8======D (Carl Winslow)
Yeah, it was tough seeing superstar Tucupita Marcano get that lifetime ban.
-Carl Winslow.
Carl Winslow
Marcano isn’t an international superstar and didn’t have an interpreter to blame.
– “The REAL” Carl Winslow
8======D (Carl Winslow)
How dare you! Everyone knew that this year was Marcano’s big breakout year. Manfred didn’t want him outshining golden boys Ohtani and Soto, so they made him the fall guy.
-Carl Winslow (it’s a common name, which I also happen to have)
sad tormented neglected mariners fan
Hi we all have the same name!
Signing off,
– Carl Winslow
8======D (Carl Winslow)
I always got Philip Banks vibes from you. But, as a fellow Carl Winslow, welcome to the club, brother.
Very Barry
Elite Pitching is watch makes the impact in the Playoffs folks. Yankees are bidding against themselves, and will be overpaying in both years and $$$$. Soto is on the team now, and they once again won’t be winning a ring even though Judge and Soto will see nothing but “juiced” baseballs. Perhaps if more focus and $$$ were placed on the bullpen, they would get a different outcome.
Of course Soto set a new “career-high” for home runs with 41. Baseball can tip the scales to create that environment with the balls.
jccfromdc
I think that your tinfoil hat is too tight.
Very Barry
You don’t need a tin foil cap to see Greed $$$$ at work. MLB is considering forcing starting pitchers to stay in the game for 6 innings. You don’t think they came up with the idea all by themselves did you???? ESPN ain’t paying all these Billions $$$$ to not dictate rules and changes that they feel will make them more money. “Juiced” balls. Anything for offense. ESPN has been worse for the NBA. Rule changes have made it one stop above WWE. Everything controlled through the referees. Greed is real!! $$$$$
cainer18
ESPN still covers baseball?
Thefrogsaregey
Lol.
Bad defense
Age probably higher
Not great teammate
Little speed
Lol at anyone who give him more than 300.
Carl Winslow
Lol.
Generational talent
25 years old
LOVES his teammates
Does the SOTO SHUFFLE
Lol at anyone who doesn’t give him $600mil
– Carl Winslow
Thefrogsaregey
Dude. You banged pdiddy
cooperhill
Age ALWAYS higher.
Carl Winslow
Age isn’t always higher with Wander Franco…
cainer18
I’d give him over $300M, but I only have $280M 🙁
baseballpurist
Steinbrenner will make it very difficult to be outbid for Soto. He is a perfect fit in New York. He has and will continue to draw more Hispanic fans to the base, as there is already a large population in the city. I see Hal spearheading negotiations much like he did when he bypassed Brian Cashman to secure Aaron Judge. Yankee fans say they need pitching and to save their money instead of signing Soto. But Steinbrenner will do what it takes to make money before winning championships.
Carl Winslow
DOMINICAN DOLLARS
jccfromdc
With Judge, Cole, and Stanton already on the team with high-$$$ contracts and Steinbrenner’s comments earlier this season that a $300M payroll is “unsustainable” it will be interesting to see whether they can square that circle.
Carl Winslow
It’s a bluff. Steinbrenner playing games.
baseballpurist
I think the only way Steinbrenner allows him to walk is if they win the World Series this year.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I don’t think any Yankees fan has said that they need more starting pitching. Next season, they have Cole (no opt-out), Rodon, Schmidt, Gil, Stroman and Cortes (final arb year). Then there are Will Warren and Cody Poteet making a total of 8 starters.
They do need fresh arms in the pen to replace expiring contracts.
Soto is close with his parents. It’s easier for them to visit NYC from DR than the west coast. He also has extended family in NYC. All pluses.
Anthony maresca
Cortes will be non tendered rather than risk paying $9 million for an injury such as Flex tendon strain. Stroman will be traded. I can see Yankees sign Snell on a 4/120 deal
johnsilver
Trading Stroman doesn’t really do them a lot of good. They pay half the 18m he’s owed in ’25 and *maybe* get a low level wildcard prospect in return.
Days of the over hyped Stroman as some type of front end SP are way past over. he’s a back end innings eater, signed to a huge 18m AAV.
YankeesBleacherCreature
@Anthony maresca
Not a chance Cortes gets non-tendered. If he’s hurt, the Yankees can negotiate to offer him arb and then a light pillow deal for ’26. You simply don’t let an asset like him go. Have you seen what guys like Kyle Gibson, Severino, Montas, etc. signed for this season. Cortes’ arb salary won’t even be close to those deals.
Jean Matrac
YBC, Stating who the NYYs will have next season is assuming zero injuries, and regression. As much reasonable hope there is for Will Warren to be productive, young pitching is unreliable. Look at how Kyle Harrison has regressed this season after a promising debut last year.
Sticking with the Giants, last offseason I thought they’d have Alex Cobb, Tristan Beck, and Keaton Winn, as well as hoping for good production from Harrison, and Mason Black. None of that happened. The old adage is true that you can’t have enough pitching, and I think the Yankees will need more than what they’ve got now.
YankeesBleacherCreature
There’s always those possibilities but @baseballpurists is saying that Yankees fans would prefer pursuing a starter over a Soto sweepstakes. That’s not the team’s priority.
Jean Matrac
You may be right. I can see Soto as being the priority for them. IMO though they’ll have a better shot at a title if they prioritize Snell instead.
TheFuzzofKing
Soto will sign with the highest bidder only.
It will not be the Washington Nationals but please, God, let it be the Washington Nationals.
Balk
Haha! Thats the way I feel about the Giants.
ctbronx7
Shallow Hal thought he could make headway with Soto in a personal meeting.
Boras just sits back and laughs, knowing he’s already told the Dodgers they will get the last bid on the free agent superstar this winter.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I don’t see the Dodgers being in the mix for Soto at all. They need starting pitching.
CardsFan57
Even the Dodgers have their payroll limits. I don’t see them involved with this in a serious way.
YankeesBleacherCreature
I don’t think any Yankees fan has said that they need more starting pitching. Next season, they have Cole, Rodon, Schmidt, Gil, and Cortes (final arb year). Then there are Will Warren and Cody Poteet. They do need fresh arms in the pen to replace expiring contracts.
Gwynning
So nice ya gotta say it twice, eh? Quit braggin’ YBC
😉
Adriann
Just don’t give him too many years. Look at Griffey JR, Trout, Miguel Cabera, Arod. They started their career early and hit the wall quick. Give more early yet a 11 years deal not longer.
CardsFan57
The Yankees will keep Soto if they want him. He knows endorsements are better when you’re a Yankee or Dodger. They will pay him if they want him. Only they and the Dodgers can afford anything they want.
DonOsbourne
And the Mets. That’s what I expect to happen. The Mets will blow away the field and make it a one team race for Soto. I also expect, in true Mets fashion, the contract will become a spectacular disaster.
CardsFan57
I don’t see Cohen doing this unless he believes it will bring a championship. I don’t think this would do it.
Jean Matrac
CardsFan57, Why would you think that about Cohen? He could see Soto as a big upgrade over Alonso. He came into his ownership talking big and spending money. It’s only because 2023 was so disappointing for them with, what looked like, a better shot in 2025, that the spending was kept in check this season. But he’s always expressed a willingness to take a Peter Seidler approach to spending, and Soto is clearly the best FA in 2025. Exactly the type Seidler would have had Preller pursue.
Jean Matrac
“Only they (Yankees) and the Dodgers can afford anything they want.”
Not really, The Met’s and Giants have all the money they need to also sign anyone they want. The Giants’ offers to Judge and Ohtani equaled what those guys accepted from the Yankees and Dodgers. The Met’s have spent a ton. Other owners have the money but not the inclination like the Yankees, Dodgers, Met’s, and Giants, to spend the money.
CardsFan57
The smart players know that endorsements are much better with the Yankees and Dodgers. Owners rarely spend their own money. They didn’t get to be super rich by spending money they didn’t need to spend.
Miken31
Except Steve Cohen has way more money than the both of them combined.
Astros2017&22Champs
If Soto wants to go to the highest bidder then its clearly the Mets. Cohen is ridiculous with his wealth. I have no doubt he will outbid baby Steinbrenner. But in my gut i believe Soto wants the Yankees. Its gonna be a crazy courtship
CardsFan57
Cohen has already shown there’s a limit to how much of his personal wealth will spend for the team. I don’t see him doing this unless he believes it will put them over the top for a championship. I don’t think this would put them over the top.
This one belongs to the Reds
That meeting and 20 bucks in New York will get you a Starbucks coffee.
CravenMoorehead
*$25
Miken31
That’s not true. They took a step back this off-season but just watch how much they spend this coming off-season. Cohen is just a fan plain and simple. He wants to win. One position player doesn’t put any team over the top. Baseball doesn’t work that way. The Mets are already about a 90 win team so certainly he helps them get closer to their goal.
Mercenary.Freddie.Freeman
Soto going to the highest bidder. Probably won’t be the Yankees.
MWeller77
If Soto wants the biggest payday possible, he should bring in ex-Yankee staffer George Costanza as a special consultant. George honed his negotiating skills in those grueling talks with NBC over the pilot. He won’t let Soto get anything than what Ted Danson is getting!
TJECK109
704 trips to the plate?
Gwynning
Truth be told, I’m glad the Yanks are enjoying a career year from Soto! We love King and Cease (by proxy)
CravenMoorehead
No love for Higgy?!?! 🙂