Juan Soto will not want to talk about it, but his upcoming free agency is certain to loom over the World Series. The New York Yankees outfielder has once again shown his worth during the playoffs, and faced inevitable questions about his upcoming offseason during World Series Media Day on Thursday.
Soto tried to brush the free agency topic aside when the question came up, but he did offer one significant hint that may shed some light on his thinking. The star outfielder said he would not necessarily chase the highest offer, and that there were other priorities he would consider.
“Definitely every player wants to be happy where they’re at,” Soto said, via David Lennon of Newsday. “And at the end of the day, whenever you win, you’re going to be really happy. So wherever you are that you have a chance to win a championship, you’re going to be excited to play for them. I think that’s the biggest thing. That’s the biggest mindset right now. See where’s the best chance for that and go from there.”
On the surface, this looks pretty encouraging for the Yankees. Soto already knows what it’s like to play for them, and he will get the chance to do so in the World Series. The New York Mets are viewed as a threat and could certainly offer a huge sum of money if owner Steve Cohen wants to, and they are coming off an NLCS appearance. Still, Soto’s comfort level with the Yankees could be a decisive factor.
Money will still be a factor, of course, and Soto is set to demand an enormous contract. The Yankees and Mets are both capable of fulfilling his demands, so other factors are likely to come into play when the time comes for him to decide.
