Juan Soto is undoubtedly the star of the off-season. He led the New York Yankees through the post-season when the face of the franchise was slacking. Moreover, Soto just turned 26, which means much of his prime years are still left – marking more reasons for MLB teams to pursue him; from the New York Mets to the Toronto Blue Jays and even the Boston Red Sox.

While the Mets and the New York Yankees are the front runners in this competition, clinching Juan Soto wouldn’t be a simple task, more so because he is Scott Boras’ client. Boras can play the mind and the market for his clients. Right now, a new update has come in that’s not great for Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman, with one Yankees broadcaster sharing how that future contract can elevate from $600 million to $660 million.

Michael Kay makes a big claim on Juan Soto’s free-agency

Michael Kay had a bold take on Juan Soto and his free agency. He suggested that Scott Boras would be pushing for a $700 million deal, like Shohei Ohtani’s. Kay even gave a reality check to the Yankee fans, saying, “I don’t think the Yankees are going to go there,” referring to the said threshold, given that Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, could be willing to outbid any offer by $50 million. However, Kays’s discussion did have a misstep!

Kay also highlighted that former Mets infielder Carlos Baerga has noted how the Mets are going to pay $660 million for 15 years to Juan Soto. But this isn’t all – the post by Baerga was more speculative than factual. In a Spanish-language tweet, Baerga had said, “It is being said they offered him $660 million,” before asking, “Is it true?” So, this specific rumor seems to be half-true at best.

The Scott Boras gameplay

Carlos Baerga recently suggested that the New York Mets may have offered $660. Now, while the speculation can come true, this could be Scott Boras at work because Baerga is a former Boras client. Boras is known for fueling such buzz in free agency to boost his client’s value, and Juan Soto’s case doesn’t seem to be an exception.
Boras had mastered the art of making it to the headline. Remember when he called Soto the “Monalisa of the museum”? Or when he suggested that the Padres would have kept Soto if the owner were still alive?

Big bold moves, but not surprising – this isn’t Scott Boras’ first rodeo. He has used media leaks to land massive deals in the past. Alex Rodriguez’s record-breaking deal, for example, with the New York Yankees did come after a shocking opt-out announcement. So, is this rumored deal of about $660 million just another Boras tactic at play or for real? Only time can say for sure, but what do you think? Let us know in the comments below.