"'Soto → Mets' That's all, "Yankees for $600 million."...But Boston is a last-minute dark horse
Dec 01, 2024
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According to local media reports, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Toronto Blue Jays were eliminated in the second round of negotiations last week, which was narrowed to a five-way race, and the New York Yankees were also excluded over the weekend, narrowing to a two-way race between the Mets and Boston Red Sox.
In this regard, NJ.com Yankees reporter Randy Miller said in an interview with New York's WFAN radio on the 1st (Korea time), `The Red Sox and Mets are the most likely places to sign Soto. From what I've heard, Big Poppy (Boston's legendary designated hitter David Otis) is playing hard to get Soto, and Soto is very happy with the Boston club."The Red Sox told him that once they sign Soto, there will be two or three additional recruits."," he said.
"From what I hear, the Yankees certainly appreciate the value of signing Soto, but I don't think they're going to bet up to $600 million. I hear the Yankees will stop betting at $550 million" he said.
In the end, Boston and the Mets are the two teams closest to Soto, followed by Toronto in third place and the Yankees in fourth place.
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However, some argue that the Mets actually won the battle for Soto over Boston.
The Athletic columnist Jim Borden said on the 1st that the Red Sox are more likely to recruit Santander than the 26-year-old Soto. The Red Sox are all-in this winter. He is flirting with almost every top FA. 'He is focusing more on the starting pitcher market and moving with real interest in Corbyn Burns, Max Fried and Sasaki Loki. It's not surprising to sign two of the three. It also claimed that it would recruit Santander rather than Soto.
Both Mets and Boston are all-in on Soto, but the Mets are ahead in concentration. In other words, Boston is likely to fail to recruit Soto, so it will eventually turn to Santa Dair with 'Plan B'.
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Santander, who is from Venezuela, was born in October 1994 and is now 30 years old. As an outfielder in the FA market, he is rated next to Soto. He played in 155 games this year and recorded a batting average of 0.235 (140 hits in 595 at-bats), 44 homers, 102 RBIs, 91 runs, and an OPS of 0.814 points. Career high in home runs, RBIs and runs scored. He was selected as an All-Star and Silver Slugger for the first time in his career this year as an outfielder with a single slugging power, and ranked 14th in the AL MVP vote. If it's not Soto, of course it's Santander.
Boston has failed to advance to the postseason for the last three consecutive years, and plans to strengthen its power this offseason. Not only is he trying to strengthen the lineup by recruiting Soto, but he is also looking for the first and second starters to lead the rotation. In other words, you can't focus on just one soto. On the other hand, the Mets reportedly have a firm will to recruit Soto by owner Steve Cohen. Rumors are circulating that other clubs are willing to pay $50 million more than that, no matter what conditions they offer.
Local media say Soto is expected to finalize the contract before the Major League Winter Meeting in Dallas, Texas, on the 10th and 13th. For now, the total is certain to be more than $600 million, and there are a series of reports that the Mets are the most likely.
Shortly after the first round of negotiations with Soto on the 19th, owner of the original Yankees Hal Steinbrenner "Contracting with Soto is our club's top priority. Otherwise, it would not have gone all the way to the West. We have the ability to sign whatever players we want," he said, expressing confidence.
New York Post columnist John Heyman also reported on the 28th that `the Yankees recently made an offer to Soto that upgraded the initial conditions'``. However, the market seems to be moving away from the Yankees.
Aaron Judge-Soto's era of 'Double Po' is coming to an end with just one season.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
