New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner reignited the debate around generational star Juan Soto and his future with the club in his first season appearance. Hal was talking to YES Network when he confirmed that Yanks badly wished to see Soto don the pinstripes for the rest of his career.

Interestingly, Juan Soto responded to the owner’s plea, saying his doors are always open if the Yankees are seeking a mid-season extension. However, MLB insiders Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli dissected the entire situation to pour cold water on the fans’ dreams as they seemingly ruled out any possibilities of a mid-season deal.

Juan Soto-Yankees Extension Unlikely In Near Future, Claims MLB Insiders

Hal Steinbrenner, the New York Yankees owner, spoke in length about Juan Soto’s contract situation and how he plans to approach agent Scott Boras to discuss the possibility of a mid-season extension deal. Soto, 25, is an impending free agent, and its market value for next year is estimated at $500 million. However, both Soto and his agent Boras confirmed that the extension was not off the table and that their doors and phone lines were always open. This raised a big debate about whether Soto will consider extending with Yanks instead of testing free agency water where his market value can jump twofold. Ken Rosenthal and Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic recently shared their views on the topic and offered a far more realistic take.

Rosenthal believes that Hal Steinbrenner will be betting against himself if he chooses to offer an extension contract to Juan Soto in the middle of a season. It’s because Soto is on the cusp of recording one of the best years of his career, which will further up his stakes in the market next off-season. “If the Yankees offer him that amount tomorrow, Boras will merely consider it a baseline and go from there,” said Rosenthal. Moreover, since Soto wants to hit the jackpot as a free agent, Ken firmly speculated that any conversations between the two parties are unlikely to be held before December, January, or beyond. And to further pose as a thorn in Yanks’ dream pursuit, city rivals New York Mets could lure Soto with a $500 million plus contract, believes Brittany. 

Aaron Boone Bats For Juan Soto’s Retention Beyond 2024 Season

In the wake of Hal Steinbrenner’s ground breaking interview regarding Juan Soto’s extension, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boon resonated with Steinbrenner’s sentiments saying Soto should stay in Bronx for a prolonged period. “He’s one of the game’s great players, and he’s been awesome in our room,” said Boone in media conference.

Aaron Boone further added that Juan Soto simply wasted no time in fitting into the group. Since spring training itself, his bond his teammates has been excellent and the difference he’s making on the field is just unmatched. All these attributes makes Soto a great player and it would be an honor for Yankees to have him long term after the current deal concludes this year.

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