Yankees’ Juan Soto ‘Ain’t Closing Any Doors’ Before Contract Talks in MLB Free Agency

Juan Soto’s services appear to be available to the highest bidder in 2025 and beyond.

The New York Yankees outfielder told reporters prior to New York’s game against the San Diego Padres on Friday that his representation “ain’t closing any doors” when it comes to his impending free agency following the 2024 MLB season.

He elaborated by saying that he was willing to talk to “whoever wants to talk about deals and stuff” and that he was “open to talk to anybody.”

This comes after reports from last week that said Soto was “open to in-season negotiations” with the New York Yankees. He was acquired by the team ahead of the 2024 season in a trade with the Padres that was a risky move considering the fact that Soto could hit free agency after just a single year in the Bronx.

It’s safe to say the early returns are promising. Soto is hitting .312/.409/.563 with 13 home runs and 41 RBIs. He is the current favorite to win the AL MVP, per DraftKings, and has helped the Yankees get out to a 35-17 start that has the team in first place in a talented AL East.

While re-signing Soto to a lucrative deal sounds like a no-brainer, the Yankees’ massive payroll is an obstacle. The team entered the season with the second-highest payroll in the league behind only the crosstown New York Mets.

The Yankees are already set to pay a hefty luxury tax with Soto’s $31 million 2024 salary, and he is set to get a huge contract given his excellent play throughout his career.

New York is already paying contracts in excess of $300 million to Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole, and those deals will continue after Soto signs his next contract. The Yankees could attempt to do the deferred money strategy that the Los Angeles Dodgers used on Shohei Ohtani last offseason, but Soto would have to agree to those terms.