New York Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman pulled no punches when discussing the team’s expectations regarding newly acquired outfielder Juan Soto. Speaking candidly from the Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Florida, Cashman addressed reporters on Thursday, acknowledging that the highly touted Soto is likely to explore free agency at the end of the upcoming season.
“I don’t see too many things stopping him from reaching free agency,” Cashman conveyed to the press, as reported by Yankees correspondent Bryan Hoch.
Soto, who is entering the final year of arbitration with a hefty $31 million salary, is poised to hit the open market once the season concludes. With renowned agent Scott Boras in his corner, known for steering his clients towards lucrative free agency deals, Soto’s trajectory towards exploring his options beyond the Yankees appears all but inevitable.
The decision to acquire Soto, despite the likelihood of his departure after a single season, underscores the Yankees’ urgency to bolster their offensive lineup following a lackluster performance in the previous campaign. Despite the inherent risk of investing in a one-year rental, the Yankees are banking on Soto’s prowess at the plate to rejuvenate their chances of clinching a postseason berth.
Soto’s prior rejection of substantial contract offers from the Washington Nationals paved the way for his departure via trade, initially to the San Diego Padres before ultimately landing in the Bronx. The looming prospect of free agency has long been a focal point for both Soto and his agent Boras, with maximizing his market value a paramount consideration.
As the Yankees embark on the upcoming season with Soto in tow, their aspirations for on-field success are intertwined with the understanding that his tenure in pinstripes may be fleeting. Nevertheless, the allure of Soto’s offensive prowess provides a glimmer of hope for a franchise eager to reclaim its status as perennial contenders in the American League.