"Give me the highest salary even though it's not my money" Judge-owner meeting proposal, NYY-Soto renews his contract, and will it gain momentum
Nov 23, 2024
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There is a famous anecdote about Barry Bonds. Bonds was released as an FA from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1992 and moved to the San Francisco Giants for a six-year, $43.75 million, the highest in major league history at the time. Bonds is the first player to surpass the average annual salary (AAV) of $7 million.
However, after the end of the 1996 season, a player who signed a contract with a condition that exceeded Bonds appeared. Cleveland Indians Albert Bell, who was called the best hitter in the AL of the time, was released as an FA and signed a five-year, $55 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, opening the era of AAV $10 million.
Inspired by this, Bonds began to shake the San Francisco club, asking them to trade if they didn't want to make him the highest paid player. Bonds, which had been under contract until 1998, eventually signed an extension for two years and $22.9 million with the opening of spring training in February of the following year, regaining its No. 1 position in the category with an AAV of $11.45 million.
What if you are a member of a different team, but you are a teammate of the same team.
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On top of that, Aaron Judge, the best right-handed hitter of the time, advised the club to `Catch Soto.'
In a video interview with local media on the 23rd (Korea time) after unanimously winning MVP, Judge said, `I didn't talk to Soto at all. I think it's best to give Soto room"I've been talking to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. The most important thing is for him to discuss this with his family, talk to people, and make the best decision for him and his family. So I didn't say anything to him" he said.
It's not a matter of advice to intervene.
However, Judge reportedly had an in-depth conversation with Steinbrenner over the Soto issue. During his one-week stay in Tampa at the end of the season, he met with the owner and talked a lot"'Juan and other players who will definitely help our team, I told them what I thought.'"
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According to local media reports, Soto's market price seems to have already exceeded $600 million. It's a 10-year contract for AAV over $40 million, $400 million, and a 15-year contract is $600 million. However, if Soto signs a 15-year contract at the highest level in AAV history, it could exceed $700 million.
AAV No. 1 is Shohei Ohtani. Ohtani, who signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers a year ago, decided to share 97% of the total amount over 10 years after the contract period ends, with the total amount of $460 million and AAV $46 million. If Soto signs a 15-year contract for AAV $47 million, the total amount will reach $705 million.
In other words, Judge's ransom, who eventually re-signed with the Yankees for nine years and $360 million after completing the FA tour two years ago, is no longer Soto's goal.
But Judge " (the money Soto will sign) is not my money. Is that a problem when you sign a contract with the best player. If you get the best player, you get as much as you can. I'll be with you no matter what it is" "Who gets the most salary is never important to me. If only the best players come, we should be able to do anything. That's what I think."
Judge and Soto led the Yankees to the third and second hitters this season, respectively, and became the main players in winning the AL and advancing to the World Series. Soto had a career high with a batting average of 0.288, 41 homers, 109 RBIs, 128 runs scored, 129 walks, and an OPS of 0.989.
jhno@sportschosun.com
