The New York Yankees will do everything they can do re-sign free agent superstar Juan Soto. But, with teams like the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers also hot in pursuit, there is a real chance that Soto decides not to return to the Yankees.
The Yankees made a gamble last offseason when they struck a deal with the San Diego Padres for one year of Soto headlined by starting pitcher Michael King, who turned into one of the top pitchers in baseball last season, and pitching prospect Drew Thorpe, who was the centerpiece in the trade that got the Padres Dylan Cease from the Chicago White Sox.
Even though the Yankees made the World Series with Soto last season, because they fell short, if they are not able to re-sign him it would be a colossal organizational failure.
Soto is one of the absolute best players in baseball. With a left-handed swing tailor-made for Yankee Stadium, Soto had one of the best seasons of his young career with the Yankees in 2024. He slashed .288/.419/.569 while hitting a career-high 41 home runs, driving in 109 runs, drawing 129 walks and scoring an American League-leading 128 runs. Soto also put together one of the best defensive season of his career in Yankee Stadium’s more forgiving right field, earning a Gold Glove nomination.