The New York Yankees are fully committed to landing superstar free agent Juan Soto. They made a major trade with the San Diego Padres to acquire the four-time All-Star, and Soto quickly lived up to expectations in New York.
Soto finished third in the American League MVP voting, hitting 41 home runs, scoring a league-leading 128 runs, posting a .989 OPS, and recording a 7.9 WAR. His performance helped propel the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009, as he and Aaron Judge formed one of the most dynamic hitting duos in history.
Soto will be just 26 years old when the 2025 season begins and is widely regarded as one of the greatest free agents ever to hit the market.
Last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a massive 10-year, $700 million contract, although 97% of the money is deferred, making its current value around $450 million. To demonstrate their serious intentions, the Yankees have reportedly sweetened their offer to Soto just days after their initial proposal, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Heyman states that the Yankees are now offering multiple opt-out clauses in their long-term deal for Soto, who is said to be seeking a 15-year contract. This move could give the Yankees an edge in the competitive race for Soto, which reportedly involves at least five other major-market teams.
