Right fielder Juan Soto is the free agent prize that seemingly will launch this quiet free agency period because teams that miss out will pivot to Plan Bs, where payroll can be reallocated to other stars.
For the New York Yankees, who met with Soto on Nov. 18, that means an aggressive back-up plan that will fill many of their holes. USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale revealed the expensive post-Soto fix Monday:
If the New York Yankees don’t re-sign Juan Soto, one back-up plan floating around is signing free-agent first baseman Christian Walker, sign either Willy Adames or Alex Bregman to play third, shift Jazz Chisholm to second base, trade for Cubs center fielder Cody Bellinger, and then use the extra money to sign Burnes, Fried or Snell.
RESTORING THE GLORY
That seems like a Plan B on overdrive, and it would mean owner Hal Steinbrenner taking on a lot more immediate salary at a time when he said a $300 million payroll was too high, though it would theoretically come with flexibility past Year 6 or 7 of Soto’s deal. These moves would fill major needs, and an argument could be made that they would make the Yankees a better all-around team — if Soto weren’t the only player they added (which would not be the case).
Let’s use The Athletic’s contract projections:
Right field: Juan Soto (13 years, $611 million; $47 million average annual value)
First base: Christian Walker (two years, $44 million; $22 million AAV)
Third base: Willy Adames (six years, $150 million; $25 million AAV)
Third base: Alex Bregman (seven years, $189 million; $27 million AAV)
Starting pitcher: Corbin Burnes (seven years, $217 million; $31 million AAV)
Starting pitcher: Max Fried (five years, $140 million; $28 million AAV)
Starting pitcher: Blake Snell (four years, $110 million; $27.5 million AAV)
Center field: Cody Bellinger (one year, $27.5 million; player option for $25 million in 2025)
NJ Advance Media’s Bob Klapisch wrote recently that the Yankees could pivot to a spread-the-money back-up plan, with several of the big names Klapisch included:
So prepare to say hello to the Plan B newcomers Steinbrenner and GM Brian Cashman are quietly considering: ace Corbin Burnes, third baseman Alex Bregman, first baseman Christian Walker and right fielder Anthony Santander.
For what it’s worth, 12 of 18 executives polled by ESPN in a story published last week said that they’d expect Soto to return to the Yankees.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported that initial offers will be made to Soto this week.
With the Yankees in 2024, Soto enjoyed the best 162-game season of his career. In 157 games, he slashed .288/.419/.569 and posted career highs in hits (156), run scored (128), home runs (41) and OPS+ (178).
