The Yankees respond to Juan Soto’s contract with the Mets

DALLAS – As far as Brian Cashman can remember, the call came around 10 a.m. Central Time on Sunday, not long after competing organizations were asked to submit their best and final offers for Juan Soto. The voice on the phone belonged to Scott Boras, the super agent with whom the Yankees general manager has made numerous deals over the past few winters. They had not succeeded in this.

Soto went to the Mets and agreed to a landmark 15-year, $765 million pact that immediately became the largest in baseball history. Cashman immediately scheduled a meeting with managing partner Hal Steinbrenner and team president Randy Levine; They too were willing to give Soto the richest contract in the world, with a final offer of $760 million over 16 years, including a $60 million signing bonus.

Instead, those funds are now available to bolster a roster looking to defend its American League title without Soto. And while Cashman said the Yankees “aren’t going to be drunken sailors” lavishing the free-agent market with Steinbrenner dollars, they will look to make several big moves before this version of the Bombers convenes on March 27 Opening Day gathered at Yankee Stadium.

“Listen, the Mets have a great player, so congratulations to them,” Cashman said. “Our work continues as we focus on our team and reconfiguration. Our efforts do not change year after year. We’re always trying to be the best team we can be so we can get to the playoffs and have a chance at the World Series, so of course we’ll be back.”

When Cashman got that call from Boras, telling the longtime GM that the Yankees’ “Plan A” needed to be converted to a “Plan B,” it had been 367 days since the blockbuster trade that set up another winter meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. Soto spent the final year of his contract as a Yankee, bringing a unique blend of patience and strength to the second spot in the club’s batting order.

Even then, Cashman recognized that there was a possibility that Soto could be a “Juan-and-done” in the Bronx; He warned as much in his remarks, although he secretly hoped the Yankees could find a way to retain a generational talent often compared to a young Ted Williams.

“We went in wide-eyed,” Cashman said. “We recognized that he was a significant talent and wanted to improve us, and he did. It’s not a deal we regret. It affected us deeply. I’m just sorry we didn’t make it to the World Series, but he – along with others – played a big part in getting us where we did and becoming American League champions in 2024.”

In free agency, the Yanks were wary of not only the Mets, but also the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers. Every day there seemed to be media reports picking a different favorite, but as the bidding for Soto passed the $600 million mark, Bombers executives became optimistic. Cashman said the numbers went beyond her comfort zone and reached “heights I never expected,” while Steinbrenner rivaled the Mets’ Steve Cohen.

While they worried all the time, Cohen’s wallet ultimately turned out to be bigger. Unlike Aaron Judge, who accepted the second-best offer to remain with the Yankees after the 2022 season, Soto would not offer a discount.

Manager Aaron Boone said: “It’s a disappointment when you’re with a guy for a year, you get to know him and it doesn’t end the way you want.” Then again, that’s sport. Things don’t always go the way you want.”

The Yankees won’t have the luxury of licking their wounds for long, as signing Soto is likely to set off a chain reaction throughout the league.

“I would just say Hal did his best to find a way to keep Juan Soto in pinstripes,” Cashman said. “But there are a lot of different ways to figure this thing out, and so we just have to figure it out in a different way.”

These thought exercises are ongoing. They have needs at first base, second base, two outfield spots, the starting rotation and in the bullpen, and assuming a moving target of $301 million for payroll, Cashman could make about $76 million in 2025 of salaries available.

With introductory Zoom calls already underway with free agent pitchers Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, the Yankees will cast a wide net on the free agent and trade fronts to fill these open spots.

Pete Alonso, Walker Buehler, Carlos Estévez, Jack Flaherty, Paul Goldschmidt, Teoscar Hernández, Jurickson Profar, Carlos Santana, Anthony Santander, Tanner Scott and Christian Walker are among the free agents who could draw interest.

Trade possibilities include Nolan Arenado of the Cardinals, Cody Bellinger of the Cubs, Alec Bohm of the Phillies and Garrett Crochet of the White Sox. Consider this an invitation to agents and rival GMs: The Yankees are absolutely open for business.

“Obviously we just lost a big offensive force, but we also have guys that are definitely capable, quality and impactful,” Cashman said. “How can I add to that? Is it run creation, run prevention, a little bit of both? How it all comes together remains to be determined. The only thing I can tell you is: hang in there.”