Sports
Suzyn Waldman isn’t sure Yankees should ‘break the bank’ for Juan Soto in free agency
Suzyn Waldman isn’t so sure the Yankees should break the bank for Juan Soto.
During a Friday appearance on “Maggie and Perloff,” Waldman posited that Hal Steinbrenner, Brian Cashman and Co. may be better off spreading the wealth this offseason rather than putting all their eggs in the Soto basket.
“[Juan Soto] is really something,” Waldman said. “What he is not, is a right fielder … Are you really going to break the bank for Juan Soto and still have to put Aaron Judge in center field?”
“… Everyone is so focused on Juan Soto. There are eight other positions on the field that you can’t fill right now … If you don’t fill those positions correctly you’re gonna replay this year.”
Waldman added that pitching and cleaning up “mistakes,” like the ones that happened during the Yankees’ disastrous fifth inning in Game 5 of the World Series, should be the focus of the front office over the winter.
Soto, the top free agent on the market, is seeking a $700 million deal this offseason, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman.
After the Yankees’ Game 5 elimination, Soto left his future up in the air when speaking to reporters.
“You never know,” Soto said when asked if Wednesday would be his last home game in The Bronx. “We’ll see where we’re at. It’s definitely a tough game to be my last.”
Despite repeatedly claiming he enjoyed his time in pinstripes, Soto said the Yankees have no advantage when it comes to wooing him in free agency.
“I feel every team has the same opportunity,” he said. “I don’t want to say anybody has an advantage.”