How the Yankees should interpret Scott Boras’ free-agent pitch for Juan Soto

On By Littum

SAN ANTONIO — Scott Boras spoke 41 words, but one would have sufficed: No.

The MLB agent’s response came after a question about whether star free-agent slugger Juan Soto would consider a heavily deferred contract similar to Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. Ohtani’s current contract is valued at $460.8 million by MLB, with an average annual salary of $46.08 million for luxury tax purposes.

Ohtani’s ability to accept a $2 million annual salary stems from his massive endorsement income, which Sportico projected to $65 million a year in March. In contrast, Soto’s endorsement earnings are estimated at around $3 million annually. Should Soto end up in a long-term deal with a team like the New York Yankees, his endorsement income could increase, but it would still come in below Ohtani’s staggering total — especially given Ohtani’s iconic status in Japan.

Ohtani’s contract structure allowed the Dodgers to sign key free agents and will continue to benefit them for years to come. However, Soto is unlikely to follow in Ohtani’s footsteps.

“I don’t think tax considerations are the focal point when you’re talking about a business opportunity where you can literally make billions by acquiring someone like him,” Boras said at MLB’s general managers’ meetings Wednesday.

What this means is that if Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner wants Soto back in pinstripes, he will have to pay without expecting any significant breaks from Boras. At the end of the season, Soto made it clear that his free-agent decision isn’t just about signing with the highest bidder. He’s looking for a team committed to winning sustainably, a factor that could tip the balance in favor of the Yankees.

The Yankees may not have won a World Series since 2009, but it’s a safe bet they’ll be playoff contenders every year when the team reports to spring training,

“This is about owner engagement,” Boras said. “It’s about showing Juan Soto that his goal of winning and winning consistently will be met, because that’s what makes the game fun for him.”

Boras also stated that he has been in frequent contact with Steinbrenner and described his relationship with the Yankees owner as “very good.” It is widely expected that if the Yankees are to re-sign Soto, Steinbrenner will have to be as directly involved as he was two years ago when the team re-signed Aaron Judge. On Tuesday, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the club has not been informed of the possibility of matching a final offer when it comes time for Soto’s decision. One way for the Yankees to gain an advantage would be for Steinbrenner to constantly communicate with Boras and make sure they understand how Soto’s market is evolving.

Boras added that Soto is eager to meet with other MLB owners face-to-face to gauge how he has viewed the entire league, making it clear that his free agency will be a “very thorough process.”

Steinbrenner has already met with Soto and expressed the organization’s commitment to keeping him. Soto has repeatedly said he enjoys playing for the Yankees and feels comfortable in New York. However, Boras noted that Soto has not indicated that the Yankees should be treated differently than the other 29 teams.

“Juan knows who the Yankees are and he’s definitely impressed and happy,” Boras said. “He went to the World Series with them, which is a huge accomplishment. But to really understand what ownership is thinking and what the Yankees’ future plan is, any player in his situation wants to hear about that. And with the respect he has for the New York Yankees, I know he will want to be very thorough in this process.”

Twenty-four years ago, Boras negotiated the richest contract in sports history at the time for his client, Alex Rodriguez, when he signed with the Texas Rangers. Boras now draws a parallel between Soto’s free agency and Rodriguez’s, noting that both were in their mid-20s, already established superstars and on their way to becoming two of the greatest players in history.

The main difference, Boras emphasizes, is that Soto has already won a championship and proven himself in the most pressing moments. Soto hit the pennant-clinching home run in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series against Cleveland and has posted impressive numbers in World Series play: four home runs, eight RBIs and a .326 batting average in 12 career games.

Given those results, it wouldn’t be surprising if Boras holds out for a contract that could exceed Ohtani’s current value.

“You have the Mona Lisa from the museum,” Boras said. “You have the attraction. You also have a player that gives the owners a better chance to win repeatedly. And when the owners win repeatedly, the revenue skyrockets.”

(Top photo of Scott Boras and Juan Soto at the World Series last month: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)