Juan Soto’s Friendship Ties to Impact Yankees Contract Extension? Bombers Chemistry Fills Missing Padres Link

Published 04/08/2024, 1:30 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

The New York Yankees’ Juan Soto trade was a seismic move in the context of the MLB. It brought the team that struggled in 2023 back to World Series contention. But a question remained, will the Bombers be able to re-sign him as Soto enters free agency? As the details of a budding bromance emerges, the Yankees may have found their ticket to a long-term Soto deal.

It was always going to be difficult for the San Diego Padres to keep Soto long-term. With Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. on massive deals, it was a tough fit. But the Padres’ Xander Bogaerts addition was the last straw that pushed the monumental trade forward. Now, the Bombers may have answered a very tough question that the San Diego team was not able to. 

Juan Soto finds family with the New York Yankees 

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There were always underlying issues with Juan Soto and the Padres. Firstly, he didn’t want to leave the Washington Nationals, with the trade devastating him. Secondly, he found it tough to acclimatize himself and fit in with the San Diego team. But now, the New York Yankees have seemingly found a fix to both issues. Soto has fit the Bombers culture like a glove, becoming a great source of energy and leadership. 

USA Today via Reuters

But he has also cultivated a strong bond with players in a short period of time. His chemistry with Aaron Judge and Alex Verdugo in the outfield is undeniable. Furthermore, his competitive drive and will to win fit perfectly with the Bronx culture. 

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He has also bonded with infielder Gleyber Torres and the 2 stars seemingly spend a lot of time together. In fact, a Fox Sports article stated, “Torres told FOX Sports he eats breakfast with Soto, and they shared a couple of dinners together in Houston”. This culture and strong bond may help the team keep Soto, who has started the season on fire. The Yankees will likely go hard to sign him. 

Yankees set to go all-out in re-signing Juan Soto 

Following his debut and the way Juan Soto has ingrained himself in the Yankees team, many reports have stated that the top brass will go all out to extend his contract. With Scott Boras as his agent, a free agency negotiation is highly likely, with $500 million seeming to be the magic number. But there is an element of doubt despite Soto’s fit in the Bronx. 

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The 2024 season has been eventful, with the Bombers starting strong and the lefty slugger playing a part. Do you think the New York Yankees will be able to sign Juan Soto to a long-term deal? Kindly share your thoughts in the comments below. 

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Written by:

Pranay Mukherjee

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Pranay Mukherjee is an MLB writer at EssentiallySports, with a degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. His expertise lies in cheat sheets, post-game analysis, and trade rumors, providing readers with comprehensive coverage of the sport. Pranay is an avid follower of baseball and is a staunch supporter of the Yankees, firmly believing that it is time for the New York team to break their World Series jinx.
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Edited by:

Deepanshi Bajaj