The New York Yankees are still in the running to sign the finest free agent in baseball this offseason. Principal owner Hal Steinbrenner will meet with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, after their in-person talks with New York Mets owner Steve Cohen. But there is reason to worry Steinbrenner may be too late.
Cohen, Major League Baseball’s richest owner, may make Soto such a generous offer that he has no choice but to defect to the Yankees’ crosstown foe in 2025 and beyond. However, such a scenario may have a positive outcome for New York.
Erik Beaston of Bleacher Report anticipated that the Yankees will lose Soto to the Mets, giving them the option to sign first baseman Christian Walker as a big upgrade over veteran Anthony Rizzo, who is now a free agent. “The Yankees would be unlikely to pursue Walker if they can convince Soto to re-sign and continue his career with the organization,” Beaston pointed out. “Prediction: Yankees sign Walker to replace Anthony Rizzo and make up for not landing Soto.” Walker had a.250/.330/.463 batting line in ten major league seasons, far from Soto’s offensive output.
However, Walker had won a Gold Glove Award in each of the last three seasons with the Arizona Diamondbacks, providing some defensive ability that the Yankees lacked during the 2024 season. “A productive hitter who is widely regarded as the best defensive first baseman in baseball, the 33-year-old Walker is a late bloomer primed to snag a three-year deal,” says ESPN’s Jeff Passan. “For a Yankees team looking to improve its defence, the three-time reigning Gold Glove winner would be an ideal fit.” Walker, who is expected to sign a shorter-term contract at a cheaper cost than Soto, might provide the Yankees some wiggle room to sign numerous free agents this winter.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, Walker is expected to sign a three-year, $60 million contract, making him a reasonably low-risk option. The Yankees are undoubtedly going to prioritize a new deal for Soto, but so will the Mets and a number of other organizations. If Steinbrenner and the front staff are unable to negotiate the greatest contract, they will most likely lose him to another suitor. That could be a blessing in disguise, giving the Yankees the impetus and financial resources to pursue a defensive boost like Walker, as well as some other peripheral players. These upgrades might be the difference in 2025, propelling the Yankees back to the World Series.
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