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ANAHEIM, Calif. — MLB agent Scott Boras and his client, New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto, had dinner for four hours Monday night. That followed a lengthy pregame chat on Friday in San Diego where two of the most powerful figures in baseball hung out amongst fans near Petco Park’s visiting dugout.
Boras said he and Soto never discussed the superstar’s upcoming free agency or the prospect of avoiding free agency altogether and signing an extension with the Yankees during Monday’s feast.
“We’re talking about his hitting history, where his head is where he hits,” Boras said while standing inside Angel Stadium’s dugout suite. “We don’t talk about contract matters because this guy already has a ring on his finger and he feels like he can get another.”
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner recently told YES Network’s Jack Curry on his podcast that his hope is Soto remains with the organization for the rest of his career. It’s not customary for Steinbrenner to talk contract extensions during the season, but he expressed his desire to have those conversations with Boras ahead of this winter’s free-agency extravaganza. Boras said Tuesday that he and Steinbrenner have “had a lot of conversations about Juan,” but he would not answer directly if those conversations were centered on the possibility of re-signing him.
Juan Soto and Scott Boras meeting pregame. pic.twitter.com/msxJycem2z
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) May 26, 2024
“When you represent players who I call ‘Centurions’ where you can say that they will be among the top 100 players to ever play this game, when you represent them you don’t worry about the cost of them for a franchise because they increase the franchise value of the team,” Boras said. “The only cost is what it costs to build the monument.”
Steinbrenner last week told reporters that the team’s $302 million payroll is “simply not sustainable for us financially.” He noted that the Yankees have upwards of $40 million coming off the payroll after 2024 with the opportunity to create more financial flexibility by not picking up options for relievers Luke Weaver and Lou Trivino and first baseman Anthony Rizzo, in addition to non-tendering players in arbitration.
But the Yankees’ top priority this offseason will be re-signing Soto, who has performed like an American League MVP candidate two months into the season. It appears the Yankees will be willing to cut costs elsewhere if it means locking him in.
“Centurion players add literally millions and millions of dollars to a franchise’s value,” Boras said. “Particularly at his age when you look at what we call in the industry surplus value and what it means for teams, the opportunity for an investment like this comes along in an owner’s career very rarely. These types of players don’t exist. Who’s the next one? The closest one is my client, (Baltimore Orioles shortstop) Gunnar (Henderson). That’s the closest one. (Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby) Witt (Jr.) is off the market. (Los Angeles Angels centerfielder Mike) Trout is gone. It’s an opportunity for a franchise.
“I understand that any owner should be responsible and any owner should do good business, but when you have a chance to pursue a Centurion, you’re only going to have that happen maybe, at best, if you own the team 40, 50 years, three or four times.”
Soto has said on multiple occasions how comfortable he’s been playing in New York and how much he’s enjoyed playing in front of the Yankee Stadium crowd where he can look out and see countless flags representing his native Dominican Republic. He’s ingratiated himself in the clubhouse and has helped young hitters like Oswaldo Cabrera and Anthony Volpe refine their approaches.
Boras downplayed Soto’s level of comfort in New York by stating he’s had success in many other stadiums around the sport. Including Yankee Stadium, Soto has posted an OPS over 1.000 in 13 other stadiums.
Juan-Punch Man. pic.twitter.com/OtznST0zEl
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) May 26, 2024
“I kind of look at performance levels,” Boras said when asked if he’s gotten the sense Soto’s enjoying New York. “But here’s the problem with Juan Soto: When I did Bryce Harper’s contract — I focus on Bryce because he had over a 1.000 OPS in Philadelphia. I said, ‘I’m gonna look at that with Juan.’ The problem is 14 teams fit that mold. Juan is comfortable in a lot of places.”
Boras said Soto’s sole focus is helping the Yankees win their first championship since 2009. He noted that there aren’t many players on the team besides Soto who know what it takes to win a title (Anthony Rizzo and Victor Gonzalez are the others). He said the Yankees need Soto’s guidance inside the clubhouse to know what it takes to win in October. Of course, if the Yankees win a title with Soto, that would only increase his value this offseason.
“The funny thing about Juan is winning, competition and championships relaxes him and makes him even better,” Boras said. “I know when San Diego was in the playoffs, Juan just flipped the switch.”
Despite the Yankees’ hopes of signing Soto to an extension, it seems likely that Boras will take the three-time All-Star into free agency. The allure of igniting a bidding war between the Yankees and perhaps the New York Mets with his “Centurion client” might be too appealing.
“I don’t think Centurions are what you would consider a cost for a team because it’s a franchise-appreciation addition,” Boras said. “Whatever your franchise is worth, a Centurion on a team would thereby make the team worth billions more. … How many of these players do we get that we can say are 25 years old, played in the big leagues since they were 19 and are on the way to set numerous records in their performance? I always go back to (Alex Rodriguez). He almost hit 700 home runs. He fell into that category. How many of them can you say have a free-agent right and have that valuation and potential for any major league franchise? They’re truly four-core players for business reasons, performance reasons and championship reasons. The decision for those players is where are you building the monument?”
(Photo of Soto: David Frerker / USA Today)
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Courtesy : https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5525407/2024/05/28/scott-boras-juan-soto-future/