Aaron Decide has made his emotions clear to Hal Steinbrenner: The Captain needs Juan Soto again in The Bronx.
Decide, who gained his second AL MVP Award this week, mentioned throughout a convention name Friday that he met with Steinbrenner in Tampa shortly after the World Collection and “discussed a lot of things.”
That included the potential return of Soto, whose free company has dominated the offseason up to now and included a gathering with Steinbrenner and the entrance workplace, in addition to Aaron Boone, in southern California.
Decide mentioned he had but to talk with Soto since he hit free company, preferring to depart him alone.
“I think the best thing is to give those guys space,” Decide mentioned of Soto. “I talked to him all season. He knows how we feel about him. The most important thing is to let him do his thing… and come to the right decision for him and his family.”
After all, nothing Decide may say to Soto would imply greater than the underside line, as Soto made clear all through his season with the Yankees and all through the playoffs, repeating that no crew would have a bonus when it got here to signing him, so long as they made supply and gave him an opportunity to win.
So for the Yankees to maintain Soto in pinstripes, it’s going to value them… lots.
With the free-spending Mets and Dodgers and the damaging Pink Sox and Phillies, in addition to wild playing cards just like the Blue Jays all all in favour of Soto, he’ll definitely earn a contract value greater than the $360 million over 9 years that Decide signed two offseasons in the past.
Requested Friday if he can be OK being surpassed by Soto if he returned to the Yankees, Decide laughed and mentioned of a possible Soto contract, “Honestly, it ain’t my money. I really don’t care. If we get the best players, I’m happy. It’s never been something that’s on my mind, who gets paid the most. Whatever we can do to get the best players, I’ll take it.”
Decide mentioned he’s adopted Giancarlo Stanton’s instance. Stanton was happy when Bryce Harper surpassed him as having the costliest contract within the sport.
“Even though he signed one of the first big, mega contracts back in Miami, once he came here, he didn’t care about being the highest-paid guy,’’ Judge said of Stanton. “He just wanted good players around him. And I think you could ask everybody in the room, they feel the same way.”
Steinbrenner mentioned on the House owners Conferences at MLB headquarters in Midtown on Wednesday the Yankees will “be in the mix” for Soto.
There’s little question Soto’s presence in entrance of Decide within the Yankee lineup had an impression on the now two-time MVP, who had a good higher offensive season this previous 12 months than he did when he first gained the award in 2022, when he set the AL report with 62 homers.
However Decide’s assembly with Steinbrenner in Tampa, the place they each dwell, was about extra than simply retaining Soto, in keeping with Decide.
“We discussed a lot of things,’’ Judge said. “From Juan, to other guys that are out there that I think could definitely help this team.”
The Yankees have query marks not solely within the outfield, however in every single place within the infield apart from shortstop, in addition to within the rotation and bullpen.
Decide will nearly definitely have a voice in at the least a few of these choices because of his chats with Steinbrenner, who Decide referred to as “very active” in his makes an attempt to enhance the crew.
“The more communication you have, top to bottom, makes everybody better,’’ Judge said. “It comes with being in the position I’m in and being captain, as well. The fact they’re listening and want to know what we have to say is a pretty cool part of it.”
Decide mentioned the 2 met all through the season, in addition to within the offseason, with regards to including gamers or coaches.
“He’s always receptive,’’ Judge said. “My first couple years, I didn’t talk to him much. Now I see how much he cares about this organization from top to bottom. It shows why we continue to be in the position we’re in.”
