'He knows how we feel': Soto sweepstakes begin for Yankees

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The ballcap that Juan Soto flipped backward in the wake of the Yankees’ World Series loss had come off his head, stashed safely in a stadium locker alongside bats and other equipment that he might not need again until spring.

About an hour had passed since the beginning of the Dodgers’ celebration, and Soto had seemingly hit all his checkpoints in a well-scripted meeting with the media: he was “really happy” with the Yankees and New York City, but with free agency on deck, he promised to “look at every situation, every offer we get."

As Soto pulled on a green and white flannel jacket, he grinned, the only such glimmer in the ocean of long faces within Yankee Stadium’s home clubhouse. Hey, you’d smile too if there was a winning lottery ticket in your pocket.

Soto padded across the navy blue carpet, stopping to ask a couple of employees if they’d be in the next day – he had some items that needed to be boxed and shipped elsewhere. They nodded, and with that, Soto passed through a doorway anchored by lockers belonging to Aaron Judge on the left and Gerrit Cole on the right.

Both stars want Soto back desperately, but for now, they wished him well while voicing their hopes that he enjoys his time on the open market. Soto may well be their teammate again next year – or perhaps not, depending on where the most appealing nine-figure offer comes from (and if it begins with a five, six or seven).

The red digital clock on the wall read 1:27 a.m. Let the sweepstakes begin.

As expected, there will be hearty competition for the 26-year-old Soto, a bonafide star and one of the game’s great left-handed hitters, a player whom any club could easily envision building a contender around. One such franchise just happens to be a few miles away.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is scheduled to jet across the country this week to meet with Soto and agent Scott Boras, who makes his home turf in ritzy Newport Beach, Calif. That development prompted Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner to schedule his own SoCal meeting with Soto and Boras, according to the New York Post.

The Yankees did test the waters about a possible extension with Soto during the season, including a one-on-one chat between Soto and Steinbrenner in July that extended past basic pleasantries. Soto earned $31 million this past season, with eyes on a multiyear deal for much more. The club was told that Soto would prefer to focus on baseball, then deal with business after the season.

So here we are. Last week, Brian Cashman stood at the center of a gathering under a hotel roof in San Antonio, Texas, wearing a soft striped polo shirt against a drab opaque backdrop. Submitting to an hour of questions as part of the annual General Managers Meetings, there were no outbursts, like the ones a defiant Cashman had uncorked a year prior.

Not surprisingly, a heavy percentage of the questions revolved around Soto; the veteran executive tossed figurative bouquets at the outfielder’s feet while cautioning that his job description also necessitated a Plan B just in case Soto begins next season with the Mets, Dodgers, Nationals, Giants, Phillies or anyone else. That included issuing a qualifying offer to Soto, which would net the Yanks a Draft pick if Soto departs.

“He knows how we feel,” Cashman said. “After the season, I had a chance to thank him for everything and told him we’d be in touch. Since that time, I’ve obviously talked to Scott as well. He’ll get a feel for the dance steps that Juan Soto wants and keep us in the loop.”

A short walk away from where Cashman and other GMs had filled notebooks, Boras stood in front of a backdrop bearing his blue and white logo to hold his own gathering; 97% sales pitch, 3% standup comedy. He eagerly unholstered one crafted line about free agent Pete “Polar Bear” Alonso – “We hear a lot about the bear market for power-hitting first basemen. For Pete’s sake, it’s the polar opposite.”

The groans had subsided, and Boras again referred to Soto as a “Centurian,” a line he’d debuted at last year’s Winter Meetings, painting him as one of the game’s top 100 all-time players. Soto hardly needed the line; a talent like his could sell itself, yet Boras will earn his commission over the next several weeks.

“We certainly have a lot of interest,” Boras said. “It’s a very fun time for Juan. He kind of slept for three or four days after the World Series. I think he feels very, very good about it.”

Yep, and why shouldn’t he? This process should indeed be a blast for Soto – while delivering a heaping helping of agita for everyone else involved. Many may bid, only one will win. Let the sweepstakes begin, indeed.