Hal Steinbrenner isn’t the only decision-maker who wants to make Juan Soto a Yankee “for the rest of his career.”
“Hal was just speaking the truth and the obvious,” general manager Brian Cashman said Tuesday when asked about Steinbrenner’s recent comments regarding the team’s newest star.
“When we traded for him, we certainly hoped we could keep him,” Cashman said of the deal that brought Soto to The Bronx in December one year before the outfielder is due to hit free agency for the first time. “We also recognize he’ll be making his own decision either way. We hope we can make it hard on him.”
The Yankees traded five players in exchange for Soto — who is making $31 million in his final year of arbitration — and Trent Grisham.
So far, Soto appears like he’ll be making it hard on the Yankees, providing a much-needed jolt to an offense that struggled a year ago, while also seamlessly fitting into the clubhouse and the New York spotlight.
“He’s a generational talent,” said Cashman who was at BTIG’s Charity Day on behalf of Covenant House at the firm’s office in Midtown. “We expected him to be great and he is great. We’re happy we made the decision to acquire him and look forward to him playing out this year and, hopefully, years to come.”
While Steinbrenner, Soto and Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, have said they are open to discussing a new deal during the season, Cashman said those talks haven’t begun.
“At some point, we’ll be having those,” Cashman said. “Stay tuned.”
Soto, 25, turned down a 15-year, $440 million extension from the Nationals in 2022 and although the Padres wanted to keep him in San Diego following his trade from Washington, the two sides never came close to a new deal.
“We’ll see how it all plays out,” Cashman said. “We want to keep him and we’re pleased with how it’s going. We think he enjoys playing here, we know he loves the fan base and his teammates.”
Soto and Aaron Judge are batting second and third in the lineup, respectively, on a regular basis.
Judge entered Tuesday’s game against Seattle second in the American League with an OPS of .988, with Soto fourth in the AL at .966.
The production of the team’s top sluggers, coupled with a starting rotation that has exceeded expectations without the injured Gerrit Cole, has propelled the Yankees back to the top of the AL East.
Soto’s immediate success has stood out not only to Yankee officials and his current teammates, but former Yankee stars, as well.
“I thought he would play like this here,” CC Sabathia said at the BTIG event. “Even though he’s a young guy, he’s been through everything with Washington and San Diego. Coming here completes everything for him, I think. I’d love to see him stay in pinstripes. He looks comfortable. He looks right. I hope they get something done.”
And Sabathia isn’t surprised that Steinbrenner came out and expressed his desire to keep Soto.
“I think Hal is just seeing what everyone else is seeing,” Sabathia said.
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