A year after acquiring Juan Soto in a trade with the San Diego Padres – 368 days to be exact – and with a trip to the World Series in between, the Yankees lost the prized superstar slugger in free agency to the Mets.
One day after it was reported that the 26-year-old phenomenon exchanged The Bronx for Queens on a 15-year, $765 million deal, Yanks general manager Brian Cashman said he had no regret about the deal that brought Soto to New York or how the process went in losing him.
“I just would say, [owner Hal Steinbrenner] went above and beyond to try to find a way to keep Juan Soto in pinstripes,” Cashman said Monday at MLB’s Winter Meetings, via MLB.com. “But there’s a lot of different ways to figure this thing out, and so we’re just going to have to figure it out a different way.”
The bidding for Soto “took us to heights that I never would have expected,” he added. “Hal Steinbrenner really stepped up to find a way to retain Juan Soto and so I’m certainly proud of his efforts. Certainly went well beyond what I would have expected.”
With Soto gone, the Yankees have another hole to fill on a roster that already now needs an answer at first base, second base, at least one outfielder, another arm for the starting rotation and a few for the bullpen. Cashman indicated funds are available for the project, but while the Yankees went as high as $760 million over 16 years for just one player, they are “not going to be drunken sailors” throwing money around the marketplace.
“The Mets got a great player, so congratulations to them,” he said. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and how to reconfigure. Our efforts on a year-in, year-out basis don’t change. We’re always trying to be the best team we possibly can be so we can get into the playoffs and take a shot at the World Series.”
As for the trade that saw Michael King and Drew Thorpe among other players head to San Diego, the GM said he was content with how the chips fell.
“We went in with eyes wide open,” he said about giving up prospects for a player who was about to hit free agency, via MLB.com. “We recognized he was a significant talent and he was going to upgrade us, and he did. It’s not a deal we regret.
“He impacted us in a heavy way. I’m just sorry we fell short in the World Series, but he — with others — had a great part in getting us where we did, becoming American League champs in 2024.”
When asked if the Yanks had upped their proposal by, say the $5 million that was the difference, would Soto have stayed in The Bronx?
“I don’t know,” Cashman said.
