Even the owner of the New York Yankees isn't sure where his team stands in the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
While Hal Steinbrenner's candid admission to reporters Wednesday will likely do the opposite of reassure fans who would love to see Soto return to The Bronx, it's an honest reflection of where the 26-year-old outfielder stands at a still-early stage in his free agency.
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The Monday meeting between Soto and a Yankees contingent that also included manager Aaron Boone, general manager Brian Cashman, and Yankees executive Omar Minaya lasted a couple hours, Steinbrenner said.
"No idea," Steinbrenner said when asked how confident he is the Yankees will re-sign Soto, according to Tim Healey of Newsday. "We'll be in the mix."
Hal Steinbrenner on the Yankees’ meeting with Juan Soto: “We had a good meeting. It was very honest.”
He said it lasted a couple of hours.
How confident is Hal that Yanks will sign Soto?
“No idea,” he said. “We’ll be in the mix.”
Soto's monster 2024 season was instrumental in the Yankees returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009. Batting ahead of probable AL Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge, he hit 41 homers, scored an American League-leading 128 runs, drove in 109, and reached base at a .419 clip in his first season in the Bronx.
Hal Steinbrenner said he had a good meeting with Juan Soto. It went a couple hours. No details.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) November 20, 2024A free agent for the first time, Soto also met in the last week with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers, according to various reports. He is meeting with teams in Southern California because his agent, Scott Boras, is based in Newport Beach.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Philadelphia Phillies haven't formally scheduled their visit with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, but they plan to. That would bring Soto's number of interested suitors to six.
Heyman also reported the Mets' meeting with Soto — the third on the books — went "extremely well."
According to Healey, Steinbrenner was asked if losing Soto to the Mets would hurt more than losing another player.
Would losing Juan Soto to the Mets hurt more than losing other players?
Hal Steinbrenner: “No. As I said, we’re going to be in the mix for Soto. If it doesn’t work out, it’s going to hurt a little bit no matter where he goes.”
"No," Steinbrenner said, via Healey. "As I said, we're going to be in the mix for Soto. If it doesn't work out, it's going to hurt a little bit no matter where he goes."
Soto is widely expected to command the most lucrative contract of any free agent this offseason — if not ever. Shohei Ohtani's 10-year, $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers stands as the record.
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According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Steinbrenner declined to say whether numbers were discussed during the Yankees' meeting with Soto on Monday. Multiple reports have suggested Soto is unlikely to sign before the Winter Meetings, Dec. 9-12 in Dallas.
Given Steinbrenner's reluctance to handicap his team's chances, it wouldn't be surprising if the most fervent numbers-exchanging talks have yet to begin.
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