One of the biggest stories of the 2024 season thus far is Juan Soto’s MVP-caliber excellence in his first campaign with the New York Yankees. That, naturally enough, is a fitting prelude to what’s going to be one of the biggest stories of next offseason: Soto’s free agency and the Yankees’ prospects of retaining his services beyond 2024.
This is indeed Soto’s walk year, and given his career-long excellence and the fact that he’s going to be quite young as free agents go (he doesn’t turn 26 until late October), the slugger is headed for a major payday, almost certainly well in excess of $400 million. Soto is represented by Scott Boras, and Boras’ highest-profile clients tend to reach the market as soon as possible so as to maximize their career earnings. Even beyond that consideration, players often prefer not to have negotiations taking place during the season. This points to the likelihood that Soto will indeed become a free agent shortly after the World Series, but it’s perhaps not a guarantee.
Speaking of which, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently had this to say on the YES Network about talking extension during the season, as Soto and his mates are locked in a struggle with the Orioles at the top of the American League East standings. Via Dave
