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LOS ANGELES — Juan Soto finds himself once again at Dodger Stadium, and discussions about his future in baseball are heating up.
His initial press encounter occurred before the All-Star Game in July 2022, where he was confronted by a swarm of reporters in the Center Field Plaza. He faced inquiries about his controversial choice to decline a monumental 15-year, $440 million contract from the Washington Nationals—what would have marked the largest deal in baseball’s history. Not long after, the young star clinched the Home Run Derby crown.
“That was crazy,” Soto reflected on the experience during a recent interview.
Now, donning gray attire of the New York Yankees, Soto steps onto an even larger stage with the World Series approaching—it coincidentally falls right before his 26th birthday on Friday. As Soto gears up for the championship, speculation about a potential $600 million contract lingers in the air.
“Just give him as much money as you possibly can,” stated teammate Clarke Schmidt, sharing his thoughts about Soto’s impending free agency. “I think money talks. So whatever he needs, I think you’ve got to make it happen.”
Soto underwent a trade to San Diego shortly after that All-Star Game and then transitioned to the New York Yankees last December. As the first Yankees-Dodgers World Series since 1981 is about to commence, he was asked about his future contract possibilities. Staying true to his previous stance, he sidestepped the questions and redirected attention to his agent, Scott Boras.
“Scott has been doing a really good job,” Soto commented. “He’s been taking all the bullets and everything. I’m just focused on playing baseball right now.”
Soto and Aaron Judge have emerged as a powerful duo, solidifying their spots as the second and third hitters in a record 153 games together—surpassing the previous record set by Joe Dugan and Babe Ruth in 1923, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Yankees are in pursuit of their 28th championship title, and Soto aims to contribute significantly to that goal.
“I think he’s loving being here and being part of this team and knowing what’s at stake and what he has an opportunity to do,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted ahead of the postseason opener. “He obviously came in here with a ton of attention and all the attention that goes with him being a free agent at the end of the year, and you’ve never felt that. It’s been about being part of this team, and he’s fit in perfectly.”
After arriving for spring training proudly sporting a T-shirt declaring “The Generational Juan Soto,” he has since batted .288, belting out 41 home runs alongside 109 RBIs and 129 walks. In the postseason, Soto’s performance escalated, hitting .333 with three home runs, eight RBIs, and seven walks over nine games.
“It seems like the bigger the at-bat, the bigger the moment, he does have a knack for seizing that moment,” Soto observed.
Grateful for the support from his teammates, Soto attributed his personal success to the welcoming atmosphere.
“They really make it easy for me,” he acknowledged. “That’s why I feel really comfortable where I’m at and I know how happy I am right now.”
Boras is marketing Soto to interested teams as “The Greatest Surplus Value in Free Agent History.”
Back in 2019, when Soto aided Washington in clinching its first World Series title, he matched Mickey Mantle as the only player to achieve seven RBIs in a World Series before the age of 22. His impressive performance included a tying homer against Gerrit Cole and critical hits in subsequent games, asserting his reputation as a clutch performer.
“It’s kind of tough to compete against sometimes when the big dogs are doing their thing,” remarked Cole, who had won 19 consecutive decisions leading to the postseason.
Soto’s track record includes a go-ahead homer in the AL Championship Series opener and a pivotal three-run homer during a recent Game 5, significantly enhancing the Yankees’ title aspirations.
“That’s an at-bat for the ages,” Boone noted, emphasizing Soto’s resilience throughout the game.
Since joining the team, Soto quickly won over the Bronx crowd, gaining admiration from fans and the Dominican community in New York.
“I’ve been really thankful for them and really happy that they have my back the whole year,” Soto expressed gratefully.
While he was cautious with his words regarding whether happiness outweighs financial gain as he approaches free agency, Soto acknowledged the importance of satisfaction for players.
“Definitely every player wants to be happy where they are,” he stated. “At the end of the day, whenever you win, you’re really going to be happy.”
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