Yesterday, Michael Kay reported that the Yankees held a 90-minute Zoom call with Braves ace Max Fried that went “very well.” The two sides are also scheduled to talk again later in the week, and MLB insider Jon Heyman recently shined some light on the situation.
“Soto, the prize of this year’s free-agent class, is expected to choose a team before the meetings conclude. An industry source indicated the decision might be finalized this weekend,” Heyman wrote for the New York Post.Â
“With Soto almost certain to receive at least $600 million, it’s unlikely the Yankees would look to add a big-ticket pitcher if they were to retain the All-Star outfielder, but Fried could potentially be part of a Plan B if Soto were to sign with the Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays or Dodgers — the other serious contenders for his services.”
It’s Juan Soto’s world, and not only are the fans, who are anxiously awaiting for the offseason fireworks to begin, just living in it, but so are the other marquee free agents of this year’s class.
The Yankees are scratching and clawing to retain the man that brought them back to the World Series for the first time in over a decade. It would be a truly embarrassing loss given the wealth of their franchise, but one man cannot be competed with, and that’s Steve Cohen. If it’s all about money to Juan Soto, Cohen can put the ball so high that no other team can reach. That’s a real scenario the Yankees are currently dealing with, which could leave them pivoting to Max Fried and others.
From the Braves’ perspective, the Soto sweepstakes are very important. The Yankees could prevent the Mets from landing one of the biggest superstars in the sport, and if they do, it likely takes one more suitor off the board for Max Fried.
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Photo: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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