The New York Yankees are on a roll, sitting at 40-19 on the season. They have been the best team in the American League all year, and a lot of that can be attributed to the addition of star outfielder Juan Soto. Soto came over from the San Diego Padres in a massive offseason trade and has fit right in with the Yankees so far.
He is scheduled to be a free agent at the end of the season, a reason why the Padres shipped him off to begin with. His upcoming free agency has been a massive talking point around the sport of baseball, with Soto expected to receive one of the largest contracts in the history of sports. The Yankees would love to keep Soto around long-term, of course, and it seems Soto may be open to the idea as well.
While speaking with Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Soto raved about his time in New York.
“This is more than what I expected,” Soto said. “It’s been unbelievable so far.”
Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images
If the Yankees were to keep Soto around for the long haul, he would be in line to become the face of the organization. He is paired with star outfielder Aaron Judge right now, giving the Yankees one of the strongest duos in the sport. With Soto in the lineup, New York has found a way to make a scary offense even more formidable. They have taken the league by storm and are off to the races.
On the year, the outfielder has hit .311 with 15 home runs and 49 runs batted in. He has energized the Yankees in a way that the team hasn’t seen in some time and it has resulted in them winning a lot of baseball games. His tenure with the Yankees has gone extremely well, leading many to believe he will remain with the organization.
“I love it here, it’s a great city, it’s an unbelievable group in there,” Soto said. “I’m excited. I’m more than happy where I am right now.”It’s just a great vibe we have in there.”
The Yankees will have some competition for Soto if he does reach free agency. The New York Mets have been rumored to be interested in the right fielder, potentially setting up a race for the ages. However, Soto has been open to signing an extension before the offseason, leaving his fate in the Yankees’ court.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
