The New York Yankees’ 2024 right fielder Juan Soto is officially on the free agent market and the extravaganza has begun. The outfielder will consider various options for his long-term home. With just less than a month before the Winter Meetings, multiple clubs have already reached out.
The 2024 season gave the right fielder a huge platform, especially in a “rental” season. It was also a huge boon for the Yankees, as their test drive of Soto’s tools passed the test.
Some rentals rarely work out for teams, but this one reinforced the need for Soto to represent the Bronx. Unfortunately, the Yankees are not the only ones in the hunt. Whoever gets the privilege of employing Soto will benefit hugely from his impeccable skills and popularity.
Juan Soto Awaiting Huge Payday as Free Agent
Soto’s 2024 Make Him Worthy of Re-Signing
By April, the Bleacher Creatures of Yankee Stadium were already chanting the refrain of “re-sign Soto.” The slugger came out the gates hot with plenty of production early, largely thanks to his approach of working long at-bats.
Soto recorded seven home runs, 21 RBI, 29 hits, and 22 walks to end the month of April, a very strong start to his campaign. May was almost a repeat, with a slightly higher batting average of .296 compared to .290 in April.
The 2023 All-Star replicated his accomplishments this season, also being named to the 2024 All-Star team. For the regular season, Soto slashed .288/.419/.569 with an OPS of .989.
He recorded 166 hits, 41 home runs, 109 RBI, and a league-leading 128 runs scored over 576 at-bats. Soto found ways to get on base. He walked 129 times and only struck out 110 times. He also recorded 328 total bases.
Soto’s Metrics Illustrate a Valuable Overall Performer
From the left-handed batter’s box, Soto battled with a calculated approach along with athleticism and tools. His strength shone through with his bat speed and aggressiveness. At the plate, the outfielder recorded an average exit velocity of 94.2 mph while his bat speed averaged 75.5 mph. His hard-hit percentage read 57% with a low of 18.3% on his chase percentage. Soto naturally saw more fastballs in his at-bats.
Soto saw 600 more fastballs than breaking pitches, where he recorded 31 home runs and a .335 batting average. Why’s that? Soto displays a level of patience and executes good pitch recognition, forcing pitchers’ hands to serve him a heater within the zone. His walk percentage read 18.1% while his strikeout percentage read 16.7%.
Soto utilized the entire field efficiently, mostly going to the pull side at 42.3%. He went straight away at 35.8% and opposite field at 21.9%. Soto was not only one-sided primarily, but he was gap-to-gap at times.
Soto’s Postseason Performance
Soto got the feel of the postseason in New York. The pressure did not phase him. The slugging lefty slashed .327/.469/.633 in October. His on-base tendencies were very important to providing the Yankees with a fighting chance.
Continuing his selective and disciplined approach, Soto drew a total of 14 walks with 31 stolen bases. He had 16 hits, 12 runs, four home runs, and nine RBI. The right fielder was hitting in the important two-spot, ahead of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
Where Does Soto End Up In the Long Run?
Soto experienced life in New York City and got a taste of employment in pinstripes. Thriving in the Bronx requires a special talent and a special demeanor, which he embraced this season.
Soto also added to the Dominican representation in the city of New York, which adds an “at-home” touch to his playing environment. There is a real shot that the Steinbrenners and Brian Cashman reach a deal to retain Soto.
If not the Bronx, Soto could hold the same role across the train tracks in Queens. Steve Cohen and the New York Mets will strive hard to bring the slugging outfielder to their borough. Either club could work out, as Soto could establish his brand in the Big Apple.
In this year’s World Series, Soto also had a taste of playing in Hollywood, where the stage is equally as big in all industries. The Dodgers are a strong possible landing spot, especially with the deferral of funds to pay Shohei Ohtani.
Could Soto end up playing for an entire country? The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently the first team to meet with Soto.
The Blue Jays will meet with Juan Soto in California this week, per @JeffPassan. pic.twitter.com/hnXo19UCNR
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) November 12, 2024
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After an extremely disappointing season, Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins may be prepared to open the wallets of Rogers Communications. This would be a smart move, to keep fans in Toronto in the Rogers Centre seats.
The Boston Red Sox have also been in the conversation. Boston may not have the funds to offer up. They’d also be adding a huge piece to a foundation that needs to be reassessed.
What Would the Numbers on the Check Look Like?
As the best free agent in baseball and one of the best bats in the game, Juan Soto will get paid as a free agent. He could come the closest yet to the deal Ohtani got last season. Soto is looking at a minimum of 10-13 years, and sitting upwards of $680-$715 million.
Photo Credit: © Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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