The New York Yankees are poised to break the bank this winter as they look to outbid the rest of the league for superstar Juan Soto.
It's no secret the Yankees are the wealthiest team in baseball, so they should be able to re-sign Soto at any cost.
Retaining the phenom outfielder isn't guaranteed, with big-market rivals, such as the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox, hoping to land the prized free agent. Fortunately for the Yankees, they still could land one of the top sluggers on the market if they fail to reach a deal with Soto.
"The Yankees have checked in on (Anthony) Santander, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post," Bleacher Report's Zachary D. Rymer wrote Wednesday when discussing where the Baltimore Orioles outfielder might sign this winter. "He'd be a terrific fit at Yankee Stadium, as much of his power is channeled to right field as a lefty hitter. Mind you, Heyman also notes that Santander is merely a backup plan if the Yankees can't retain Soto. This basically puts them in the same boat as the Mets, and the risk for both is that Santander will sign before Soto's market is settled."
Santander has batted .246 with 316 extra-base hits including 155 home runs, 435 RBIs and a .776 OPS throughout his eight-season career with Baltimore.
The 30-year-old's projected market value is roughly $97 million over a five-year deal, translating to slightly over $19 million annually, according to Spotrac.
The bidding war for Soto will be highly competitive and Mets owner Steven Cohen is prepared to spend whatever he has to acquire the 2019 World Series champion. If the Yankees can't re-sign him, acquiring Santander should be their next priority -- if he's still available.
More MLB: Mets Predicted To Win Bidding War For Prized $215 Million Free Agent - Newsweek
English (US) ·