The Juan Soto Effect: Yankees’ Pursuit of Star Outfielder Means No Deal for Blake Snell
The New York Yankees came up short in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, with the star outfielder opting to sign a record-breaking deal with the New York Mets on Sunday instead of returning to the Bronx. Now, the Yankees face the challenge of shifting their focus to alternative options, despite the difficulty of finding a player who can match Soto’s impact.
According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman revealed that the Yankees held a Zoom meeting with Blake Snell but were informed shortly after that negotiations were “moving fast.”
The Yankees ultimately chose not to make a formal offer, citing budget constraints that prevented them from pursuing both Snell and Juan Soto. Less than a day later, Snell finalized a deal with the Dodgers.
Juan Soto’s departure from the New York Yankees
Juan Soto secured a groundbreaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets, surpassing Shohei Ohtani’s record-setting $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this offseason. Meanwhile, Blake Snell inked a $182 million deal to join the Dodgers.
The Yankees reportedly extended a 16-year, $760 million offer to Juan Soto, matching the Mets’ terms by excluding deferments. However, General Manager Brian Cashman stated during the MLB Winter Meetings on Monday that the proposal was “above and beyond our comfort level” according to MLB.com.
Although the absence of Juan Soto will impact the Yankees offensively, the team could shift focus to bolstering their pitching staff. With their current rotation set to return next season, New York might target top-tier free-agent pitchers who could enhance their starting lineup.
