According to Brandon Kuty of The Athletic, the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres are still talking about a possible deal that would send slugger Juan Soto to New York, but the Yankees have also kept in touch with the representatives for free agent center fielder Cody Bellinger:
“As for Bellinger, the Yankees have found his asking price to be a little steep, according to the source, though it’s unclear how much he wants, and high prices are the norm this early in the offseason.” Boras also represents Bellinger. The Yankees, on the other hand, are said to be very interested in the 28-year-old.
Bellinger is coming off a strong rebound season in which he hit.307 with 26 homers, 97 RBIs, and a 133 OPS+ for the Cubs, finishing 10th in the National League MVP voting. Bellinger, the Dodgers’ 2017 NL Rookie of the Year and 2019 NL MVP, had down years in 2021 and 2022, leading to his non-tender.”
The Yankees and the Padres have exchanged names in connection with a potential Soto trade, but no deal is imminent.
The Padres’ asking price for Soto is understandably high. However, with the slugger set to hit free agency after the 2024 season, acquiring teams may be unwilling to pay a king’s ransom for him.
San Diego is interested in New York’s top prospects and young MLB players. New York will try to talk them down to a deal that is beneficial to both parties.
The Yankees do have the farm system required to complete a trade. According to MLB Pipeline, New York currently has five prospects ranked in the top 100. It all comes down to who the Yankees are willing to part ways with.
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