There was never any chance of Juan Soto accepting a qualifying offer from the Yankees, not with the free-agent outfielder in the early stages of being wined and dined by multiple clubs, and the built-in price tag representing a pay cut from the outfielder’s 2024 salary.
Soto formally rejected that qualifying offer on Tuesday, joining 11 other players league-wide who made similar decisions. The Reds’ Nick Martinez was the only player to accept the $21.05 million, one-year contract, representing the mean salary of the league’s top 125 highest-paid players.
The decision ensures that the Yankees would receive Draft compensation if Soto signs with another team, a selection that would come after the completion of Round 4.
Of course, the Yankees are hoping that never comes into play. Soto and agent Scott Boras met with a Bombers contingent on Monday near Boras’ offices in Newport Beach, Calif., with the group said to have included managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone.
The Yankees understand that they face stiff competition to retain the 26-year-old Soto, who has also met with the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The Dodgers were said to have a meeting scheduled on Tuesday, with the Giants, Phillies and Rays having been mentioned as clubs also interested.
Soto earned $31 million this past season, when he batted .288/.419/.569 with 128 runs, 31 doubles, 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 129 walks in 157 regular-season games. It was one of the finest all-around years of Soto’s young career thus far, as he set career highs in runs, hits (166), homers, total bases (328) and extra-base hits (76).
“As I’ve said all year, what Juan did for us between the lines was pretty special, and [he] put together a remarkable season,” Boone said last week. “But equally, I was just impressed with the person. Really getting to know him and getting to manage him was a pleasure.
“I certainly would love to have him back, obviously. I want him in pinstripes moving forward. But you also know there’s going to be a lot of people competing for that, and who knows where it ends up?”
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