The New York Yankees have made re-signing Juan Soto their top priority this offseason, as MLB rumors swirl about the perennial MVP candidate attracting heavy interest from around the league. While the Yankees remain optimistic about keeping Soto, there are already whispers of contingency plans in case he decides to leave.
Soto, who is expected to demand one of the largest contracts in MLB history, is targeting a deal that could rival Shohei Ohtani’s recent massive contract. With other contenders like the New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Toronto Blue Jays in pursuit, the Yankees face the real possibility of losing out on the star outfielder. Fortunately for New York, the market is full of other strong free agent options at various price points. While Soto is their top choice, missing out on him could give the Yankees a chance to pivot to their backup plan and still make a significant splash.
Jon Heyman of the *New York Post* recently reported that the Yankees are also interested in acquiring either Alex Bregman or Willy Adames, with one of them potentially serving as a “Plan B” if Soto signs elsewhere. In this scenario, the Yankees could turn their attention to signing Bregman to play third base while bringing in Christian Walker to replace Anthony Rizzo at first. Though these players may not match Soto’s offensive numbers, they could offer even greater overall value to the Yankees.
This approach would also give the Yankees the financial flexibility to pursue other high-profile targets, such as Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, or to strengthen their bullpen by adding top-tier relievers. While rumors continue to swirl about Soto potentially heading to the Mets or Phillies, the Yankees appear to have a solid backup plan in place, ensuring they remain competitive regardless of the outcome with Soto.
