Yankees $700,657 Million Contract Dream Deal Failed Due To Missing Out A Chance Of Signing A Top Key Player For The Season…

We won’t repeat what you’ve already heard about Shohei Ohtani’s deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ultimately, it’s a $700 million deal that will span the next 20 seasons—two figures that haven’t been mentioned during the previous 18 months of rumors and conjecture. But baseball is like that. Anticipate the unexpected, and even when it does happen, be prepared to be taken aback in any manner.

So how does this relate to the New York Yankees? Well, days before Ohtani made history, the Bombers made the first massive splash of the offseason by acquiring Juan Soto in a trade with the San Diego Padres. Exciting for 2024.

But how could someone concentrate only on Soto for a single year? This generational 25-year-old will be entering free agency in November of next year, which is ideal for all sides. Fantastic news, huh?

Well, yes and no. It was until Ohtani signed for $700 million. And he signed that contract, as of right now, as a designated hitter. He cannot pitch in 2024. It’s unclear how his career as a pitcher will unfold after his second Tommy John surgery.

Ohtani’s estimated amount had previously never exceeded $600 million, and estimates even made that seem high. A lot of people were imagining $500–550 million with incentives. But he just received a guaranteed $700 million. What will Soto get as a regular position player now that he turned down the Washington Nationals’ $440 million offer? Could the Yankees try implementing some of those “deferrals” that are gaining so much attention?

Shohei Ohtani contract might’ve killed Yankees’ chances of re-signing Juan Soto

General manager Brian Cashman and Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, were both asked about the possibility of an extension both before and after the trade. Cashman expressed the Yankees are well aware this could be a short-term affair. Boras, based on his track record, has every intention of taking his client to free agency, so what’s the point in even twisting our brains into a pretzel?

All we know is that, short of a catastrophic event (which we won’t delve into further), Soto’s price tag will most likely exceed everyone’s earlier estimates. It’s unlikely that Soto’s market will be impacted by a bad year. He is a global celebrity, marketing icon, MVP candidate, and superstar. For any franchise, that is a surefire investment.

It’s unclear if Hal Steinbrenner is interested in making Soto a Yankee for life. It’s unclear if Soto wants that. But the Yankees have some payroll complications they need to work out before a $500 million contract is considered, and that seems like it’ll be the floor for Soto.

Although there was never going to be a discount for the slugger, there was a brief feeling that Ohtani’s hypothetical ~$500 million contract, loaded with incentives, might have prevented Soto from controlling the market. That’s resolved now. And Steinbrenner will have to go back into uncomfortably high spending range if the Yankees hope to be competitive come November.

The bright side? Since the owner of the Yankees is no stranger to this, he may be able to throw caution to the wind when the time comes by taking the safest possible risk on an international generational talent.