Yankees’ payroll strategy under scrutiny as Juan Soto’s price soars
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Follow UsThe New York Yankees face a significant financial challenge as they consider signing superstar Juan Soto, whose next contract could exceed $500 million.
Jim Bowden of The Athletic reports that Juan Soto is expected to secure a deal worth more than half a billion dollars, potentially making him one of the highest-paid athletes globally.
“Juan Soto has transformed the Yankees this season and is likely to finish in the top five in American League MVP voting,” Bowden said. “He’s expected to land a contract exceeding $500 million, with both New York teams anticipated to join the bidding war for his services.”
Will Juan Soto stay in New York?
At 25, Juan Soto is on track for a contract similar to the 12-year, $426 million deal Mike Trout signed with the Los Angeles Angels, which was the largest in MLB history at the time. Despite the Yankees’ financial power, securing Soto presents a significant challenge.
One major obstacle is the Yankees’ plan to reduce their payroll for the upcoming offseason. With a current payroll of $302 million—the highest in franchise history—the team is under pressure to manage its finances more prudently. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner admitted in May that maintaining such a high payroll is unsustainable.
“Honestly, payrolls at the level we’re currently at are simply not sustainable for us,” Steinbrenner said, according to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner. “Most owners would find them unsustainable as well, especially considering the luxury tax we have to pay.”
The Yankees already have substantial financial commitments to star players like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole. While Giancarlo Stanton’s contract, signed a decade ago with the Miami Marlins, will eventually expire, it currently limits the Yankees’ ability to make other high-cost acquisitions.
Although the Yankees could offer Juan Soto a lucrative contract to boost their competitiveness, they face other pressing needs, particularly in the infield. If the team cannot offload some existing contracts, they will need to rely heavily on their current roster to pursue their 28th World Series title. Fan pressure on general manager Brian Cashman has also increased, complicating his efforts to secure a deal that satisfies both financial constraints and roster needs.
As the offseason approaches, the Yankees will have to make difficult decisions to balance their roster and finances while attempting to retain Juan Soto. There is speculation that the team might explore trading Stanton to free up financial flexibility or allow key bullpen arms like Clay Holmes to leave in free agency.
The Yankees’ strategic direction will likely become clearer during the offseason, but rumors suggest more changes could be on the horizon.
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The biggest problem the Yankees have is Brian Cashman, both historically and in the future. The man cannot judge talent number one and number two, he acts like he is spending someone else’s money i.e. he doesn’t care. he has to go.