On the heels of Juan Soto signing the biggest contract in the history of professional sports last night, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world throughout the day today:
1. Winter Meetings officially begin:
Players, agents, and executives alike arrived in Dallas last night for this year’s Winter Meetings, which officially kick off today and run through this coming Thursday. There was plenty of activity over the weekend, even aside from Soto, as the Giants landed shortstop Willy Adames on a franchise-record pact while the Dodgers and Orioles both swung two deals a piece. L.A. reunited with veteran reliever Blake Treinen and agreed to a one-year pact with outfielder Michael Conforto, while Baltimore agreed to a one-year deal with Gary Sanchez to serve as Adley Rutschman’s back-up behind the plate and added Tyler O’Neill to their outfield mix on a three-year agreement. That was quite a flurry of activity in the weekend leading up to this week’s meetings, and with Soto now off the table the hot stove is widely expected to burn even more brightly in the coming days.
2. Soto suitors decide what’s next:
With Soto now off the board, all five of his suitors will now have to redirect their attention elsewhere going forward. The Mets, of course, have now landed the crown jewel of their offseason but still have plenty of room to spend and figure to target corner infield help to either reunite with or replace slugging first baseman Pete Alonso in their lineup. They’ve also got a wide open vacancy in their rotation, even after adding Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes to the group earlier this winter. The club is reportedly in on a number of the better starters remaining on the free agent market, including Sean Manaea and Jack Flaherty.
Even more interesting than the Mets’ next steps after signing Soto, however, is what’s next for the other Soto suitors. The Yankees will now have to find a way to replace Soto’s production after falling short in their attempt to retain the superstar, and figure to be aggressive in upgrading the corner infield, rotation, and outfield as they hope to field a competitive team without their second superstar slugger. The Red Sox and Blue Jays, meanwhile, will now have to figure out how to jump-start their attempted returns to contention without adding Soto’s otherworldly bat to the lineup. Best positioned to rebound from their failed pursuit of Soto by far is the Dodgers, who were seemingly less invested in his market throughout the process and have already signed a handful of free agents headlined by Blake Snell this winter.
3. What’s next on the outfield market?
No corner of the winter’s market was more clearly held up by Soto’s decision than the outfield market, where Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander are the best remaining bats now that Soto has signed. The market for both sluggers figures to ramp up quickly in the coming days, and all four Soto suitors who missed out have been connected to one or both sluggers already. The Dodgers and Hernandez have reported mutual interest in a reunion after the slugger had a career year in L.A. this past season, while the Blue Jays appear to have the most interest in Santander of the four failed Soto bidders. One other factor in the outfield market worth considering is Cody Bellinger, who the Cubs have made clear they hope to trade this winter and has already been connected to the Yankees.
Should I drive up to Dallas….?
They ‘ought to hire me….
They probably need a cleaning crew…
Seriously, the Mets may have done a favor to the Yankees.
The Mets did every one of the other Soto suitors a favor!!!
Just think how many Quality ballplayers a team such as the Yankees and/or the Dodger can sign with the $700 million they’ve saved by NOT SIGNING SOTO!!!
What can he possibly deliver to make that contract pay out. Even michael jordan needed scottie pippen and the rest. Will the mets put players around him?
Except as Severino to the A’s reminds us, “plan B” doesn’t always materialize. Can’t control where players are going to sign. Plan B is just a scribbling on the white board. Now there’s more competition for the remaining players.
Except, Soto likely greatly increased the contracts of others, especially outfielders. Should be interesting.
Susannah: As much as I hate the Yankees, you’re absolutely right. They can afford, for instance, Bellinger at 1B, maybe Santander in RF, although I still thinks that’s Judge’s best position, another OFer, a 3B and, of course, pitching. That’s a lot. They better get cracking.
Why not Bellinger in CF, Alonso at 1B and Bregman at 3B? That would be $400-450m. Still have $250 for pitching.
@Dewey
Does Soto really count as an outfielder? In all seriousness he could be the best hitter since Williams/Ruth/Mantle/Mays. But as an all round player he’s Ruth minus the pitching.
@Wade
They’d be better with Walker at 1B. Bellinger & Bregman I agree with, but those three would cost you $80 million a year in total. I think you’d get better value from them than Alonso & Soto. Oh and some of that fielding stuff….
Wade, that would be $77-80 million AAV.
Are you suggesting I start by wiping the floor with Boras?
That’s not nice.
The Yankees better not make any crazy deals out of desperation now. I don’t want Walker for 1B. He’s too old the Yankees need to get Younger. I wouldn’t mind Bellinger but at what cost of prospects. I would sign Bregman and Burnes, Hoffman for the BP and trade for Bellinger. Hopefully, Dominez is ready to play full-time in CF now.
Bellinger woukd cost no prospects, he is 10m AAV underwater
He would definitely cost prospects. Slightly overpaid, but it’s not like the Yankees are in a position of strength since they just lost Soto, and everyone including Homer knows Cashman gets in his feelings for Bellinger. Oh and avg. 3WAR last two years, no chance you get him without prospect/s or MLB ready talent.
There will be more teams than the Yankees in on Bellinger. And the Cubs will walk away with more than salary relief.
This is a fair trade. You take Bellinger and pay him and you give us Mark Leiter Jr. Back. This is as simple as it gets. Leiter was good here. Cubs get a cheap reliever you get Bellinger. Not like you don’t have cash now. Cubs get reliever depth and Hoyer gets to do, Whatever stupid thing it is he wants to do with the money. You get a 1B/Of LH hitter.
Why? That’s all Hoyer want is the money to do something else. You’re not getting that AND prospects. Which BTW we need like a hole in the head. Heck we’ll even toss in Mervis. Long will probably be playing 1B in Iowa this year. And probably Ballesteros. Mervis would be like the prize in Cracker Jack. You might like it you might not.
No chance imho. But the market will prove which of us is right.
If Boston trades Casas, I would love a three year Walker or one year Goldie deal to cover first base.
16: I don’t think the nyy will have to give up their best prospects for Bellinger. I think, as long as the cubs pay a big chunk of his salary, both in 2025 and 2026-when he will surely opt in again – would get him for 1B.
Conforto just got 17 million. Bellinger might have some value beyond his contract
Bellinger is very good, but not remotely worth 30m AAV,
Need to learn how to count. Bellingers deal is 26 million AAV. If he opts in both years then it’s 27.5 and 25. My math wasn’t as good as yours probably but that averages out to 26 million a year. Scholars out there am I right?
Are you worried about Bregmans regression? Plus hitting in left field is much friendlier than yankee stadium.
I’d love to see Paul Goldschmidt sign a series of one year deals with a solid World Series contender such as the Yankees and/or preferably the Dodgers.
Goldy is going to help any team on defense, plus he’s still got fire in his tank with his Bat!!!
Good Luck Goldy!!!! You’ve gotten screwed over by John Mozeliak and the Cardinals over the past 5 years of team neglect!!!
Hopefully Goldy signs with a team who has intentions of winning a World Championship Ring!!
17dizzy: Last I checked, the Dodgers already have a pretty good 1B. I think he’ll probably have to sign one year contracts the rest of the way so he can prove he can still hit, which I think he still can. Maybe a change of scenery will help him.
Bregman is about to get paid
club – Correction, about to get overpaid.
Despite all the doomsayers, the free agent frenzy is back now that Boras learned his lesson from the prior offseason.
Let’s see if the Red Sox can finally outbid other teams for a quality free agent. Burnes or Fried, Santander or Teo.
Time for John Henry to put his money where his mouth is!
Fever Breslow simply has to get one of the top two guys and if him I’m all in on Fried. The Soto signing was what it was if Soto wanted the highest money he was always going to be a Met. I’m sure Cohen would have paid 800 million to get his man. I’m not upset that the Red Sox didn’t pay that amount for a likely DH in 5 years.
If they whiff on both Fried and Burnes then they are much more likely to go the trade route to add Crochet. If they don’t get one of the tor arms it’s very likely that that one of the big 4 is traded. I don’t think they will trade Anthony, Campbell or Teel leaving Mayer as likely on the move. This leaves likely trading chips of Mayer and Abreu those are some pretty good trading chips.
In a perfect world they would accomplish all they need to through free agency but seems unlikely. The Yankees now have a lot of money they can throw around and are after the same guys as Boston not to mention the Mets they’re in for a penny in for a pound now. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cohen go all in on Burnes and Fried now and try to build a super team to compete with the Dodgers.
Bruin – It was reported recently (I think yesterday?) that Chicago would accept Mayer and the Red Sox would consider trading him. Surprisingly they listed only Campbell and Anthony as untouchable, they didn’t include Teel. Your thoughts on that?
And it sounds like you don’t want either Teo or Santander? The Red Sox are determined to acquire a solid RHB, I would take either of those two.
Fever: As I understand it, Soto’s contract can top off at $805M. Can Cohen be the first owner to reach the $400M salary mark next season? Of course he can!
Fever my thoughts on Teel are you absolutely do not trade him. The Red Sox next catching prospect after Teel is probably Johanfran Garcia and he will be coming off a devastating injury and is only in A ball.
Teel is a line drive hitting machine and he was really good last year. He hit well in Portland and while he struggled to begin with in Worcester he really hit well in the last month of the season at Worcester. I think he will be up in the big leagues by the middle of next season and is likely a high average all fields line drive hitter with 15 homer pop and solid defense as a catcher in the big leagues eventually. I wouldn’t trade Teel unless you are completely blown away and given an offer you can’t refuse.
Bruin – That’s exactly why I’m very surprised he’s not an untouchable. Plus the fact catcher is a premium position that’s very hard to fill.
Avenger, the Mets are at $251 million including Soto. If the signed Burnes, Fried, and Bregman they would be at somewhere around $330 million. Who else could they sign for the other $70 million.
That would make Stearns job easy in the draft next year because they wouldn’t have many after the 1st one and it would move back 10 spots.
IMO it was less Boras during last offseason and more the uncertainty around clubs TV revenues (a significant part of their profits previously). On top of that you had the Mets sitting out to reset payroll so that removed the elephant in the room. Dodgers focused on Ohtani, etc. overall market is in much better shape shape this year with Bally/Diamond settled.
16 – Not to rehash last offseason again, but all 5 holdouts going into ST were Boras clients and he didn’t have any of his top clients sign earlier.
So it wasn’t the overall market, it was just Boras intentionally dragging on the negotiating.
Fever, it was the Boras 4. One dropped him and is stuck in Arizona.
Snell suffered through one season in San Francisco at $32 million and then got 5 years $36 million from the Dodgers. Going into last offseason he was projected by this website to get 6 years and $26 million AAV. Thinking Boras did ok by him.
Chapman was another of the Boras 4. He got a $20 million salary for 2024 and then a 6 year $151 million extension. 7/171 is more than he was projected to get last offseason by $21 million.
Bellinger signed what will amount to a 3 year, $80 million deal with the Cubs. That is a higher AAV than the $22.5 million this site has projected but 4 years shorter. Since he still has another opt out after this season he could still sign a long term deal, but he would have to play good baseball to do that.
So the only player that lost out in that is the one that pouted and fired Boras. The others got paid more than was expected. Snell by a huge margin.
Ohtani was a way better contract than Soto ! A better player for a better price negotiated by a better ran franchise instead of one that still seems desperate to be relevant
Big – Agreed! It’s really ridiculous to guarantee 15 years for any player, an enormous risk of injury. Hopefully Soto stays away from Machado on the basepaths.
Maybe Cohen plans to sell the team long before the contract expires.
There’s the opt out after 5 years – age 31, which may be a reality of he continues his pace and the salaries/luxury tax continue to escalate.
For a grand total of $40m Steve Cohen can eliminate the opt out. 99% sure it’s going away by year 5.
Scott – Yes without question if Soto performs the opt-out will be bought out.
You wouldn’t need to keep saying it if you truly believed that. I’m glad you all finally won a World Series that you can enjoy but let’s not get too carried away with your dominance. The Mets obviously scare you or you all wouldn’t feel the need to comment about how great you are all the time.
Not a dodger or Mets fan. Just a baseball fan. little and less of what the Mets do scare me, in fact I am starting to pull for them some as I do like Soto and lindor and I’m a bit of a Yankee hater lol.
Regardless of how much money you have, you can’t buy championships. There’s not enough talent out there and too many teams. Mets are already cutting corners on pitchers they are acquiring. Not a bad strategy with that lineup, but still not an endless amount of funds or they’d be signing better pitchers
The Dodgers essentially bought one.
Big whiffa: I agree there are too many teams and not a lot of talent to go around. The Dodgers Mets, Yankees, Braves, Phillies and Padres have spent an ungodly amount of money to contend. This year’s WS was better than I thought it would be, but I enjoyed myself much more watching lower payroll teams like the DBacks and Rangers play in the WS.
Big Whiffa swings and… Connects for a home run
Bull!
Desperate to win. They certainly proved themselves relevant this past season.
They did, but those are two separate topics. They committed more money that some franchises whole operation budget to a guy when he will be 40 years old
I love how you are trying to state opinions like it’s fact. Truth is we a year 1 of 15 and 2 of 10 in the contracts it’s way to early to tell. If Mets win 2-3 WS in that 15 years and Dodgers only win the 1, do you still agree with that opinion?
Reyday: Ohtani is an exceptional athlete who seems to come back faster than many others from injuries. He was already pitching in the bullpen before the PO this season. Soto is also a great natural athlete. I can’t recall him ever having a serious injury and I don’t wish him one, but it would be interesting if he can come back like Ohtani has.
Avenger, Dave Roberts said that Ohtani will not pitch to start the season. That he will be available off the bench to hit as early as the Tokyo Series. Since so few starting pitchers have come back and been a good pitcher after a second UCL surgery, it will be interesting to see how Ohtani does when he returns. Wishing him the best but not betting on him returning to his dominant pitching. Odds are not in his favor.
There you go with logic. No room for that here.
100%. It’s the value when you sign. Ohtani was a way better deal than Soto. That’s not opinion. And I hope the Mets do win 3x the amount of championships than dodgers over next 15 years. It’s the well ran franchises like dodgers and Braves that scare me the most
Nice week from O’s ! They need to save their prospect capital and go sign Flaherty and then another back of rotation starter. Hopefully between him and Grayson, one will develop into a frontline starter you are confident running out there in a 1 game series. If anything, trade for Presley or Devin Williams as neither will not have much of an asking price
Big whiffa: I think it would be only fair if the Sox sign Burnes and Santander after the O’s signed two of last year’s Red Sox.
I hope they do ! They need to make a splash and fenway will be good for Santander aging in that contract
So happy the Yankees did not do this. Would like to see them get some on base guys, some speedsters. Maybe another stud for the rotation.
uvm – What free agent on base guys/speedsters are free agents?
The Red Sox will NOT be trading Duran to the Yankees!
You know Soto would be an on-base guy, right?
dsh – I’m guessing that’s why uvm is saying the Yankees need an on base guy. LOL
…Juan Soto is THE on base guy. Nobody else comes close to his production.
Juan Soto is the only player the Yankees would have spent that kind of money on. They’re not going to take 700 million and load it with stars now. It’s going to be right back to Brian Cashman dumpster diving for Band-Aids.
Damn – The Yankees will acquire at least two big name players. I’d say them signing Burnes, Flaherty or Fried is practically a guarantee now along with either Teo, Santander, or trading for Bellinger or Suzuki.
I just hope whichever team acquires Abreu doesn’t flip him to the Yankees, he would flourish in Yankee Stadium.
I’ll bet you that Cohen signs Burns.
377 – Frank? Ken? Charles Montgomery?
I’d be good with Burnes and Santander and then trading for Bellinger to take over at first. Still gotta solve third base. Jazz Chisholm is not a third baseman and should be moved back to second.
Big obstacle for the Yankees is how many picks they will be willing to forfeit. They need Alonso or Walker at 1B. They should be strongly pushing for Hernandez or Santander for OF (although OF defense will remain suspect). If they get 2 of those 4, that’s giving up 4 picks and $2M of international spending.
They also then need to look at bullpen and 2B/3B.
I’d say them signing one of the QO SPs is highly unlikely.
I wonder if signing Soto would bring Alonso back now that he sees, with some pitching help, the Mets should be right in the thick of things next season.
avenger – I see Vladdy taking over 1B for the Mets at some point during the next year. Mets can find a one-year fill-in if necessary.
I’d still like to see the Angels pick up Bellinger. We could offer both Moniak and Adell and maybe a minor league piece. Adell needs a new scene to finally live up to his hype perhaps.
Prov356- Do you want to give us Cancer and tuberculosis too? Just pay Bellinger and keep the diseases. Rather have Gene Autry’s Cowboy hat. Just wondering what exactly you think the Cubs could do with either one of those failures?
unclemike – Ha – No, I don’t. But, I believe both of those guys might find their potential under a better run organization. Maybe not but they are wasting away in the Angels org.
Yankees trade for Bellinger and sign Bregman and Santander and their spoiled fans will be happy.
So you think the path to happiness for the “spoiled” Yankees fans is to sign Bregman? Tell me you’re clueless without telling me you’re clueless.
Joe I didn’t just say Bregman. I added 2 other good players that could shine in that bandbox. Let the crying continue Yankee fans.
It doesn’t matter how many names you listed. You listed Bregman showing how clueless you are. If you are going to troll, don’t suck at it. I’ve seen many troll posts up here about the Yankees that were very entertaining.
You’re quite sensitive troll. I thought opinions/predictions were welcome on these sights. I guess you’re one of many Yankee fans having a bad morning. Oh well. That’s entertainment. Feel better dude.
Yankees are still better than Mets.
Yankees overachieved last season and reality about to catch up quickly with them
Big – And now they have a massive hole in the outfield and in the lineup that will be impossible to fill.
Of course I’m talking about the departure of Verdugo ;O)
Big whiffa: I don’t watch either by team closely, except when they’re on national TV, but it seems to me that the Mets have holes at 1B (unless they move Vientios there, which would leave a hole at 3B), 2B (Acuna ?), maybe an OF or two and, of course, P.
The Yankees, 1B, 2B, 3B, one or two OF spots and, who doesn’t need more P. Correct me if I’m wrong, just don’t assassinate me.
Nope. Not as they are now.
Yankees went 0-4 against the Mets last year and just lost their 2nd best hitter to them. I think it’s time to come to grip with reality.
And the Mets are far from done this off season.
Aloha folks, well I’m waiting, not holding my breath, to see if Jed & the FO can actually make some trades now, especially of Cody, need to find him a new home so that younger players can have a chance like PCA. Nico maybe on the move too. At least Soto made a decision, didn’t hold up the off season, nice to see the hot stove moving. Mahalo!
KG – Come and listen to a story about a man named Jed.
Why do you trade an offensive piece when you are looking to improve the offense?
The Cubs are foolish for wanting to move Bellinger.
Aloha Chad, I hear you. Sadly Cody didn’t produce as hoped in 2024, had a WAR I believe of 2.2. just to break even on his current deal he’d have to have a 6.0+ WAR in 2025. With his history of injury I just don’t see it. Plus his exit velocity was down this past year. Lastly, the Cubs finally have a good farm system, granted no prospects are proven til they make it in the show but it would be nice to let a Caissie have an opportunity. Plus Cody is due $32.5mil guaranteed and I think the team can put that to better use. We’ll see. Take care now. Mahalo
Well the Cubs don’t have to trade Bellinger to free up money. The Cubs could trade Tallion and Hoerner and save 29 million which is equal to what trading Bellinger would do. I’m assuming Jed has a plan to get another starter so makes replacing Tallion at least palatable. Nico can be replaced by Shaw/Triantos and the Earth keeps spinning. I like Tallion and Hoerner but trading Belli doesn’t seem feasible or it would have been done already and you will actually get something back for Tallion and Hoerner.
So the Cubs are turning over right field to Caissie, who had 19 homers in a Triple-A last year, I don’t see that as an upgrade. I love giving prospects a chance but why do it when you have a proven major leaguer.
Also it seems like several other MLB teams view Bellinger as an offensive weapon.
Cubs need to concentrate on pitching, primarily bullpen.
@Unclemike1526:
In order to replace Taillon’s performance as a 2/3 last season, you’d have to spend close to $20 million a year for a free agent. Any trade for a pitcher of that caliber that is cheaper then Taillon’s $18 million would likely cost considerable trade capital.
You want to replace Hoerner and his 3rd on the team 3.7 bWAR and his gold glove caliber defense for either of 2 kids who have never seen the majors?
The earth will keep spinning, sure, and the Cubs will end up further out of the playoffs then last year.
Also…
“trading Belli doesn’t seem feasible or it would have been done already”
The teams who might trade for Bellinger were mostly in on Soto. Now the trade might get done, but no one who thought they were in on Soto was trading for Bellinger until the Soto situation resolved itself.
That’s a lot of money for a full-time DH. That just raised the price of every single bat-first player. Going to have a bunch of terrible defensive players in the lineup. I guess this will set the stage for an Offensive and Defensive team in MLB, along with a special teams.
York – Defense has never been valued by the analytics crowd.
Never has, never will.
@Fever Pitch Guy
Well, Bill James has also had enough with the computer guys destroying baseball. According to James, this focus on minutiae detracts from meaningful insights into baseball’s larger issues.
I’m glad I’m in good company. As I said, we’re going to get to a point where we have an offensive team and a defensive team, just like in the NFL. We opened that door years ago by allowing the DH to exist in one of the leagues.
nypost.com/2024/07/02/sports/bill-james-godfather-…
York – Even Bill James has learned with age comes wisdom.
You know what cracks me up? MLB is working hard at trying to make the game more entertaining by increasing offense with gimmicks such as the Ghost Runner, Golden Bat, larger bases, limited pickoff attempts, pitchers required to face at least 3 batters, etc.
The best way to increase offense is to reduce the pitcher roster limit to 11 and increase the bench to the backup catcher and 6 position players who can actually hit.
There is nothing more pathetic than a team sending a sub-.200 hitter to the plate in the 8th inning with the bases loaded in a tie game.
Back in the day you had bench players like Reggie Jefferson batting .347 who would be brought into games to face RHP.
Today you’ve got guys like Mickey Gasper and Bobby Dalbec stepping to the plate in high leverage situations because there’s no other options due to the short bench.
I will never stop pointing this out, the bloated pitching staffs is doing far more harm to the game than people realize.
@Fever Pitch Guy
Because, as James said, we’re so focused on the minutiae that we’ve turned pitchers into hired guns instead of workhorses. Guy comes in and pitches 1 inning and all of the sudden, he can’t pitch tomorrow. What a joke.
York – You’re 100% correct, but I’m also talking about the short bench which prevents teams from carrying strong hitters, fast runners and defensive specialists on the roster.
With the short bench, teams have just 3 “versatile” players who aren’t especially good at hitting, running, or playing certain positions.
Fever: My favorite all-time PH was Gene Cline. The Pirates had the deepest bench I’ve ever seen in 1979.
Old York: Isn’t Bill James the one who started this analytics baloney in the first place? As for Manfred and the owners who condone it, all of his ridiculous rule changes help the offense and screw the defense. He made those changes to attract young people. What he’s doing is alienating the fan base who appreciate the game as it was. Those younger people he wants to attract aren’t going to stop gaming and come to the ballpark. What a moron.
Fever,
Chapman got his bag from the Giants, largely in part because of his defensive metrics, so I’d argue that there are some exceptions to getting paid based on defense. But you’re right, for the most part, analytics values the offensive stats.
Okay so no Soto… no problem… but if Boston was gonna spend say 650/ 700 on Soto, now spend something close to and grab 2-3 pitchers/ a right handed bat. 10 more beer vendors/ 15 more hotdog vendors and 2 peanut vendors ( my dream job so I could watch game, no one buys peanuts at ballpark)
Olm – Then they are smuggling the peanuts into the parks, because I always end up with their peanut shell dust all over me!!
BTW – I disagree with the Red Sox spending their Soto money on other players this offseason. They gotta save a few hundred million for next year when they sign Brasier! That is gonna be another bidding war with Cohen and Steinbrenner that John Henry must finally win!!!!
FPG!!! Love it… way ahead of you … why did you think I only said 2 peanut vendors.. I get boxes/ Brasier .. bleachers!! lol!! Put up tree yesterday… ( okay I hung the ornaments) Mrs B did all the work.. I must say my 2018 trophy ornament looks a little worn out…. Bout time to get a NEW one!!!
olmtiant: Selling peanuts wouldn’t obstruct your view of the game because the vendors mostly throw the bags to customers. Oh, and I hate to be a buzzkill, but peanuts grow in the ground.
Olm – I broke out the 2004 World Champions Santa hat, I have enough ’04 stuff to fill Guapo’s stomach.
How does an ornament get worn out? You have cats pawing at it or something?
Hey shapiro, time to do something to improve my baseball team….RESIGN !!!
Get Out of Toronto !! Take useless atkins with You !!
CT – I’ve lost 24 pounds on the Atkins diet, so I wouldn’t say he’s totally useless.
Soto was great for the Yankees for one year, They paid a heavy price for him, but a trip to the WS wouldn’t have been possible without him. The worst mistake they could make right now is to take on deeply flawed, older players just to appear relevant. 2023/4 roster demonstrates what happens when you have too many older, lower-performing players at key spots. If there’s a decent value, sure, spend, But the last thing we need are a bunch of guys past their prime.
Mike – Here’s the thing, the Yankees have backed themselves into a corner with the Judge and Cole contracts. Their window is now, they simply can’t punt on the next few seasons by letting the kids play and gain experience. The Yankees must acquire veterans.
Yeah you can’t answer losing Soto with letting the kids play. You answer with solid acquisitions and winning the chip without him.
I take your point, Overpaying somewhat isn’t the problem. It’s Cashman’s (questionable) ability to identify players who aren’t on the downslope of their careers….the DJMs, Rizzos, etc.
Mikenmn: Your post makes me think of the O’s. They’ve looked scared to death in the PO the last two seasons. They need some veterans to mix in with the young guys for their experience. As for Judge and Cole, I think it’s Cole the Yankees are having regrets about.
How do y’all think Henry is going to spin drawing the line at the cost of an iffy reliiever in 2024 money over a 15 year span? $7 million/year? Kiss my @$$, John
Troy – It’s widely believed John Henry’s pursuit of Soto was all for show. His alleged $700M offer was matched or passed by at least 3 other teams, so it was obvious $700M wouldn’t get Soto to sign with the Sox.
And his arrogance in demanding a meeting with Boras/Soto over the weekend was comical. He wanted the fanbase to believe he was calling the shots, but Red Sox Nation knew all along it was Boras/Soto calling the shots and they would never let John Henry dictate any negotiating terms.
Shucks, Troy. As a Liverpool football (soccer to y’all) fan, I know just how cheap cousin Mr. Tom Henry can be. So if’n y’all want him to court better players, y’all are just blowing smoke out of yer corn cob pipe. Never gonna happen in a month of Sundays.
Honestly, Cashman is going to have to answer more questions at these Meetings than the Mets. Yanks losing him is almost bigger news than the Mets getting him.
But seriously, the only response I want to hear is who’s next. There’s some damn good free agents out there and many players of interest on the trading block. You can build better than one Soto.
Wouldn’t be surprised to see the Yankees go after Santander AND trade for Bellinger and utilize one at 1B. Both would excel with the short RF. If they can’t find a way to trade with the Cubs then they could pursue the polar bear but I think the Mets might still push for a reunion to an extent. Toronto might be highly interested in Santander but I don’t think the Yankees will allow themselves to be outbid twice if they do make the decision to go after Santander. I can also see the Giants as a good fit for Santander as well. We know Teoscar is going back to the Dodger blue or to Fenway. It’ll be very interesting to see how it all shakes out!
“Meanwhile” has to START the sentence. It’s not supposed to come in the middle, separated by commas.