MLB Insider Outlines Yankees’ Potential $380M Backup Plan If Juan Soto Bolts

While the New York Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series, it was the first time the Bombers reached the Fall Classic since 2009. Outfielder Juan Soto was a huge reason why New York made it that far.

Can general manager Brian Cashman retain the superstar slugger on what could be a record-breaking deal? How he fits on the Yankees’ roster is obvious. ESPN’s Jeff Passan said on Friday that re-signing Soto is “the perfect transaction” for the organization. But what if it doesn’t happen?

Replacing Soto’s production would involve acquiring multiple players. The 26-year-old is fresh off placing third in American League MVP Award voting thanks to a .989 OPS, 41 home runs, 109 RBI and 128 runs scored in 713 plate appearances. He was also quite clutch in the postseason, posting a 1.101 OPS with four homers, nine RBI and 12 runs scored in 64 trips to the plate.

The Athletic’s Tim Britton is projecting Soto’s next deal will be for 13 years and $611 million. So if the Yankees don’t re-sign the left-handed slugger, they’d hypothetically have plenty of money to spend on multiple players. How could they go about it, though?

“For example, they could sign Willy Adames to play third base, move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to center field, let Aaron Judge take Soto’s spot in right, sign Christian Walker or Pete Alonso to play first base, and add Blake Snell to the rotation — all for less than re-signing Soto will cost,” Passan wrote.

This potential backup plan could cost $380 million if Walker is the first baseman and $445 million if Alonso is the solution for that position, based on MLB Trade Rumors’ contract predictions. Here are the player-by-player predictions:

– Adames: six years, $160 million

– Walker: three years, $60 million

– Alonso: five years, $125 million

– Snell: five years, $160 million

Passan also doesn’t touch on a solution for second base, assuming the Yankees want to acquire someone from outside the organization to take Gleyber Torres’ place. What’s clear is that regardless of the outcome of Soto’s free agency, the Bombers’ offseason is far from over.

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