Soto's scramble for proxy war, legendary DH"Boston, sincere about Soto"...Is there as much money as the Yankees-Mets

Nov 25, 2024

David Otis, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame as a legendary designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, is broadcasting as a FOX Sports commentator in Game 2 of the World Series on the 27th (Korea time). ImagesYonhap News

The New York Yankees are known to have the highest probability of re-signing Juan Soto. AP Yonhap News

The FA's biggest fish Juan Soto, which is receiving intensive love calls from big market clubs, is spreading into a proxy war among superstars.

Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees said in a video interview with local media on the 23rd (Korea time), "(The money Soto will sign) is not my money. Is that a problem when you sign a contract with the best player. Who gets the most salary doesn't matter to me at all. If only the best players come, we should be able to do anything. That's what I think."

This means that it doesn't matter if the Yankees break their record of ransom ($360 million for nine years, $40 million for AAV) to catch Soto. It is read to mean that you must catch Soto.

In fact, it is not wrong to say that Judge was able to be unanimously selected as AL MVP this season with 58 home runs, 144 RBIs, and 1.159 OPS. The Yankees built the AL's strongest lineup with No. 2 Soto and No. 3 Judge 'Double Four', reaching the postseason as the No. 1 AL league winning percentage and becoming AL champion.

Aaron Judge met with the Yankees owner and asked to renew his contract with Juan Soto. AFP Yonhap News

Judge is said to have also had in-depth talks with owner Hal 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.'" In fact, he requested to renew his contract with Soto.

It is obvious that Judge's one word is a great help not only to the owner, but also to club officials and Yankees fans.

The New York Mets, who are considered Soto's leading destination along with the Yankees, also had a big impact on the news from a star from the club. Spanish-language media reporter Deportivo Z101 Hector Gomez, who plays as an MLB insider, said on his SNS on the 18th that `According to former major leaguer Carlos Baerga, the first offer the Mets presented yesterday with Juan Soto in LA was $660 million.'

The decisive testimony came out that Soto's ransom is believed to have exceeded $600 million. It is unknown where Baerga's remarks came from, but after his prime as an infielder with the Cleveland Indians and Mets in the 1990s, he is now a Spanish-language commentator for Cleveland games and often delivers big news about major leaguers from Latin America.

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is said to have offered Juan Soto $660 million. AP Yonhap News

On top of that, a legendary hitter from the Boston Red Sox makes comments related to Soto, drawing attention. David Otis is considered the best designated hitter of all time. Appearing on the local media 'ITM Podcast' on the 23rd, he said, `One thing I can say clearly is that the Red Sox are very interested in recruiting Soto. I've seen the Red Sox approach Soto, the first time I've seen them approach someone like that. They really want Soto."

Otis spent 14 years with Boston from 2003 to 2016 out of 20 years in his major league career, and was a leading player in three World Series wins (2004, 2007 and 2013). He believes that the Red Sox are all-in on the contract with Soto as a person who can hear the news of the Boston club more closely than anyone else. In addition, Otis is from the same Dominican Republic as Soto. He is treated as a hero in his hometown.

In the meantime, 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.

jhno@sportschosun.com