NEW YORK – Hal Steinbrenner wants his relationship with Juan Soto to be similar to his friendship with Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole, and the New York Yankees owner emphasized the team’s commitment to continually improving the roster as the star free-agent agent outfielder in the Bronx remains .
Steinbrenner said the Yankees delegation at the meeting included team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and senior baseball operations advisor Omar Minaya.
“We had a good meeting. It was a very honest back-and-forth dialogue for a few hours,” Steinbrenner said.
When asked how confident he was in retaining Soto, Steinbrenner said: “No idea. We will be in the mix. I’ll leave it at that.”
“We listen to our fans, right? Our fans really enjoyed having him in New York,” Steinbrenner added. “He’s definitely a big part of why we got to the World Series. So I have ears. I know what is expected of me.”
The meeting lasted about two hours and took place at a hotel near Newport Beach, California, near the office of Soto’s agent Scott Boras, a person familiar with the session said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because those details were not made public.
Soto was acquired from San Diego last December and the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009.
“We didn’t get to know each other that well,” Steinbrenner said. “I’ve been told he’s someone who, when he’s in the clubhouse, he’s in a zone like no other, and with players like that, I just don’t like to interrupt that process and pull someone aside, take them to Boone’s office and have conversations. But we did talk about that in California and if he was back next year, I made it clear that the kind of relationship I would want is the kind of relationship I have with Gerrit (Cole). ) and with Aaron Judge.
Soto is also meeting with other teams and financial talks likely won’t begin until next week. The Yankees entered the postseason with a payroll of $311 million, second behind the Mets at $332 million.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo, second baseman Gleyber Torres, left fielder Alex Verdugo and reliever Clay Holmes also became free agents, reducing the Yankees’ payroll obligations.
“We are in a better starting position than a year ago. There is no doubt about that,” Steinbrenner said. “Year after year after year after year, payrolls are similar to this year and the luxury taxes they produce are not sustainable, not feasible, and that is the case for the vast majority of owners, perhaps all owners, year after year after year . It doesn’t mean I can’t do what I want to do in a given year. We have the opportunity to sign any player we want to sign.”
On Steve Cohen’s Mets competing for Soto
“Of course it’s a concern,” Steinbrenner said. “If it doesn’t work out, it’s going to hurt a little wherever it goes.”
Criticism of the defense and base running
“We haven’t played a clean World Series. I think we all know that,” Steinbrenner said of the five-game loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers. “But those fundamentals got us to the World Series. Our play was mostly solid over the course of the year. That’s why we won a pennant for the first time in fifteen years, but in the World Series they undoubtedly just played better than us.”
The loss to the Dodgers remained in his mind.
“It stung. It still stings,” he says. “It’s interesting when you’re so close and you don’t get there, it stays with you for a while.”
Cole’s contract
After Cole exercised his right to opt out, the Yankees would not negate that right by adding a $36 million salary for 2029. The pitcher then decided to stay and the teams will continue to talk.
“We want Gerrit to be a Yankee for life. I believe he wants to be a Yankee for life,” Steinbrenner said. “And adding another year or not adding another year should have no meaning in that regard.”
Boone’s contract
Boone will enter the option year of his contract next season. Steinbrenner said a new deal may be discussed.
“I will be having conversations with Cashman in the very near future, yes, but there is no great rush,” Steinbrenner said.
On Rays will play at Steinbrenner Field this season
“It’s a big problem. It is the right thing to do for their fan base, many of whom are my neighbors and friends,” Steinbrenner said. “If it wasn’t for Tampa, they would have moved out of Tampa because there is no other location in terms of size, the amount of premium and club space we have, a field that is Major League ready, and lights that are ready for the Major League. All that, plus everything we did with the clubhouse.”
Lights will be added to an outfield for the Class A Tampa Tarpons, and Steinbrenner said the Rays will improve the visitors’ clubhouse.
