Juan Soto has plenty of potential suitors as his long-awaited free agency reaches its peak. largely None of that should be a reason for him to leave the Yankees.
ESPN's “First Take” commentator Stephen A. Smith said:
Soto's sweepstakes has been talked about almost everywhere in the sports media world, including on ESPN's top debate show.
Chris “Mad Dog” Russo joined the show Wednesday in search of a weekly hit, but the longtime radio host said after considering all the logical bidders, the Red Sox He sparked a stir when he said he believed he would ultimately settle on Soto.
“This is weird and I don't have inside information. I think he might sign with the Red Sox,” Russo said. “I have an interesting feeling.”
Mr. Smith didn't like that. They were particularly frustrated that Mr. Russo had no sources to support his feelings.
With a nervous look on his face, Mr. Smith said, “I don't appreciate people bringing up this topic when they don't know inside information.'' “Don't jinx it! Don't do that.”
And Smith said he believes there's only one reason Soto would consider leaving the Bronx: for the World Series champion Dodgers.
“I'm telling you, there's only one excuse on earth for Juan Soto to leave the New York Yankees, and that's if you go to the Los Angeles Dodgers. There's no other reason to leave the Yankees.”
According to the newspaper's Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Soto is expected to sign a contract worth more than $600 million and is being courted by the Mets and billionaire Steve Cohen, while Smith is an All-Star. The outfielder said there was no reason. He left the Yankees for New York's “fair-weather stepson.”
At the end of a long diatribe, Smith begged Yankees general manager Brian Cashman to add more pitchers to help improve the team.
Coincidentally, the Yankees held meetings with both left-hander Max Fried and right-hander Corbin Burnes this week while awaiting Soto's decision, the Post reported Wednesday.
