Why former MLB GM thinks it’s ‘healthier’ for Yankees to lose Juan Soto in MLB free agency

Losing Juan Soto could be a blessing in disguise for the Yankees.

That’s the opinion of former Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd, who told The Post’s Joel Sherman on “The Show” podcast that he believes the Yankees will be a better team if they spread out the yearly money they have allotted for Soto and instead add several pieces this offseason.

“I’m not sure it’s in the Yankees’ best interest going down this path. I don’t think there’s any one way to win in the game and it’s foolish to present things like if we don’t have this player, we’re never going to get the chance to win,” O’Dowd said. “The Yankees have three players committed to $108 million dollars on their payroll. If they sign Juan Soto with a six in front of it, now they have $168 million for four players. Simply, the math does not work. The depth of their system and the impact of their prospects just don’t allow them to put a quality team on the field in the aggregate with the depth you need to win in today’s game.

“So, if I’m the Yankees, I certainly would want him back but I would anticipate you’re going to lose him because I don’t think they’re as in a desperate a situation as the other three teams are.”

The Yankees are one of five teams in the Soto sweepstakes, along with the Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers.

Indications are Soto will receive at least $600 million in what should be at least a 10-year pact due to him being just 26, and perhaps he can even cross the $700 million mark.

O’Dowd, who served as the Rockies’ top executive from 1999-2014, touted Soto as a great hitter who is “one of the most elite hitters we’re going to see in our generation.”

Soto helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series in 15 years this past season, but O’Dowd believes the Yankees would become too top-heavy with Soto on the roster.

The Yankees already have made large commitments to Aaron Judge ($40 million per year), Gerrit Cole ($36 million), Carlos Rodon ($26 million) and Giancarlo Stanton ($25 million).

O’Dowd mentioned Cody Bellinger, Jurickson Profar, Pete Alonso, Christian Walker and Nolan Arenado among the free agents and trade candidates he would be interested in acquiring in place of Soto.

“I’d be going in a lot of different directions knowing that Soto, by far, gives me the most dynamic player but the reality of it is, I got to field a team. And there are limits of a payroll for any team in the game, including the Yankees,” said O’Dowd, who built the Rockies’ 2007 NL pennant-winning team. “I’d actually be spending a lot of my time trying to figure out how we’re going to build a championship team without Juan Soto being on it, and I’m not sure that’s not in their best interest long term.”

He added: “I think it’s just healthier for the franchise.”

O’Dowd also noted that the Mets are in a better financial spot to take on Soto’s large salary since their only huge contract belongs to Francisco Lindor, and noted how Toronto is desperate to land a star after missing on Shohei Ohtani with Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette entering their walk years.

He expects the Mets and Blue Jays will be the highest bidders.

Said O’Dowd: “I think it’s going to come down to a decision: Does he want to go back to New York for less money, meaning the Yankees, or is he going to want to chase the money in Toronto or in Flushing?”