What Do The New York Yankees Do Now That They Lost Juan Soto?

It’s over. Juan Soto is a New York Met: 15 years, $765 million. The contract includes a $75 million signing bonus and an opt-out clause after the first five years. If he does opt out, the Mets can keep him by upping his yearly salary to $55 million per year over the final 10 years of the deal.

For those doing the math at home, Soto’s contract could eventually become a 15-year, $805 million contract.

As a Yankee fan, I’m devastated, but I have nobody to be upset with. We lost. The Yankees offered $760 million, and he chose the Mets because he believes they’re a better spot for him to finish his career.

Are we just supposed to sit here and cry?

The silver lining is that the Yankees have a lot of money to spend, so let’s spend it. Here’s what I would do if I were Brian Cashman to re-tool the Yankees to get them back to the promised land.

For those wondering, this has the bones of my previous article published a few weeks ago, but now I’m in more of a “seeing red” stage. I added a few things. Buckle up.

“Recreate Him in the Aggregate” – Billy Beane, Moneyball

That stupid Moneyball meme continues its stranglehold on my brain. That’s where we are at, but we can do it. Or at least, I tell myself that to make me feel better.

Juan Soto played 145 games in right field last year, so the common thought is that if he signs somewhere else, let’s replace him with a right fielder.

Luckily, Aaron Judge can play center field or right field, and Jasson Dominguez likely will fill the other outfield spot. The Yankees can add the best player available, whether through free agency or trades, without worrying as much about which outfield position that player plays.

A part of me is hesitant to sign one of these free-agent outfielders because I have my eyes on Kyle Tucker, who will be a free agent next year. He’s been one of the best outfielders in the sport over the last few years, and his smooth left-handed swing is a dream fit in Yankee Stadium. He’s a much better defender than Soto, and he’ll be a free agent when he’s 28. However, I won’t sit around and wait, wasting prime years of Judge and Cole. We have to act now.

Yankees Top Free Agent Outfield Targets

There are plenty of free agents available that can play the outfield. I narrowed down my search to the two I wanted on the Yankees. I considered players like Michael Conforto, Max Kepler, Tyler O’Neil, or Mark Canha, but those guys aren’t enough if we have to replace Juan Soto.

Anthony Santander (RF)

Pretty self-explanatory here. Judge stays in the center, Dominguez in the left, and Santander in the right.

Since 2022, he has more home runs than Juan Soto and ranks sixth in the league with 105 home runs. That’s more than Yordan Alvarez, Mookie Betts, Austin Riley, and Jose Ramirez.

Santander can replace Soto’s power for a lot less money, and by wRC+, he’s been 24% better than the league-average hitter since 2022. Soto is the better hitter and is much younger, but Santander will be 30 next year; it’s not as if he’s ancient.

A big reason we all love Juan Soto is his ability to limit the strikeouts while taking plenty of free passes. He’s nearly an impossible out.

Santander doesn’t walk like Soto, but he has posted an above-average walk rate in the past three seasons. Santander is not your classic swing-and-miss guy who taps into crazy power; he only struck out 19.4% of the time last year, just 3% more than Soto and 5% lower than Judge.

He is also a switch-hitter, which adds an element that Juan Soto can’t.

He can take advantage of the short porch or be another power-righty against left-handed pitching. Santander would be an excellent fit, and he’s about an eighth of the price.

The Yankees would also be taking away a bat from their rival Orioles, but that’s just a bonus. This makes a lot of sense, and it’s an easy move.

Teoscar Hernandez (LF/RF)

Teoscar is a slightly cheaper but older version of Santander. He hits for plenty of power but plays below-average defense in a corner outfield spot. If the Yankees did sign Teoscar, he would play right field, Judge would move to center, and Dominguez would play left if that’s the only move they make to address the outfield.

Teoscar is coming off an excellent year for the Dodgers, posting a 3.5 fWAR and a 134 wRC+. He hit 33 home runs, stole 12 bases, and slashed .272/.339/.501. He put up a 119 wRC+ in the playoffs and was a massive piece of the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series run.

He does strike out more than I would like, but he’s still a better all-around hitter than Santander. He provides a lot of Santander’s power, but he gets on base more consistently and hits for a higher average.

Even when Santander put up 44 home runs last year, Teoscar was the more valuable player by fWAR.

They could sign either of these two names. They can replace the power they’ll lose with Soto, but they still need to do more. I think a different path may be better.

Big-Time Trade Ideas

If the Yankees don’t sign Soto, simply signing Santander or Hernandez won’t be enough to win, and it definitely won’t be enough for Yankee fans. No free-agent outfielders would make a significant impact, so we’ll direct our attention to the trade market to finalize this outfield.

Do It: Trade for Luis Robert from the Chicago White Sox

Luis Robert is a tough player to evaluate. In 2023, he was one of the best players in the game, smacking 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases, all while providing excellent defense in center field. Chris Getz, the GM of the White Sox, knows this and wants a lot for him. Teams haven’t been willing to meet the asking price because they are pointing to his 2024 season.

He got hurt again. Robert did manage to play 100 games, but this is now three of the last four seasons where he’s missed a solid portion of the season. From 2021-2022, he played 166 games, 83 on average per season. Also, in 2024, he looked like a shell of himself.

The defense fell below average, his SLG dropped nearly 150 points, and he struck out 33.2% of the time. That was the highest of his career and the fifth-highest in the league for players with at least 400 PA. I have to queue it up because he’s not qualified for FanGraphs. The idea that we have to trade multiple elite prospects for a player I have to make a search adjustment for to determine how high he ranks in strikeout rankings is upsetting.

But here we are, and I’m in. The upside is too tantalizing. He’s been hurt, but he’s been very productive up until last year. How would you feel going to the ballpark every day knowing your team will likely lose? Everywhere you turn, “worst team in the sport,” and you can’t do much to change that. It would undoubtedly affect me, so I’m willing to take the chance on the power/speed mega-combo with great defense in center, allowing Judge to play right field.

I would package Spencer Jones and Chase Hampton, two of the Yankees’ three best prospects. Both are members of our Top 100 Prospects. I’d be very hesitant if they need more than that, but if all they need is an additional Top 30 prospect, I make that deal. It can be done without parting with Jasson Dominguez or George Lombard Jr. Do it, Brian Cashman. The time is now.

Do It: Trade for Jake McCarthy from the Arizona Diamondbacks

“The Arizona Diamondbacks are shopping starter Jordan Montgomery and listening to offers on outfielders Jake McCarthy and Alek Thomas,” Bob Nightengale reported for USA Today.

This isn’t the sexiest move, but he provides plenty of defense and speed, a much-needed addition to backup Jasson Dominguez if he’s not ready. McCarthy is not a good enough player to be the big piece they add on its own, but he’s worth a phone call to Arizona.

The 26-year-old is coming off a 3.0 fWAR season while posting a 110 wRC+. He’s not a power threat, and he doesn’t hit the ball that hard, but he does everything else. Think of Alex Verdugo with better defense and much more speed.

He stole 25 bases last year and was one of the best defenders in the outfield last year. He can play all three positions, giving the Yankees plenty of versatility. If the Yankees want to make a point of getting faster and better on defense, he’s the guy the Yankees should be taking a look at. Figuring out a package for him is difficult, but the Yankees can decide as they see fit.

Consider It: Trade for Byron Buxton from the Minnesota Twins

The Twins are amid a television rights battle, so they could be in the market to move off some of their larger contracts, especially in the outfield, where they have plenty of talent on the roster and coming up in the minor leagues. He’s making $15M a year over the next four years and is just 31 years old. He put up 3.7 fWAR over 100 games this year with a 142 wRC+.

Buxton is an incredible talent. He’s an elite center-field defender and adds an element of speed the Yankees don’t have. He also hits for plenty of power and would be an incredible addition to the Yankees or any team. Twins fans don’t want him traded for a reason.

The problem with Buxton is his inability to stay on the field. Last season, he played 102 games, the most he’s played since 2018. Maybe the Twins are growing tired of him being on the IL more often than not, so they’ll listen if the package is correct.

If the Yankees were to trade for Buxton, it would make sense for them to sign someone like Santander. An outfield of Judge, Buxton, and Santander is exciting and allows Dominguez to mature. If any of them hit the shelf, he can take that role.

Even if the Twins are cutting payroll, which is no guarantee, they would only move Buxton if they get pieces that can help them win now.

Centering the deal with young bats that have made their debut, like Oswald Peraza, Everson Pereira, or Ben Rice, could be a starting point. It would likely take more than that, even if the Yankees ate every cent of the contract.

An offer of Oswald Peraza, Everson Pereira, and Chase Hampton would be enough to get in the door with Minnesota. All three prospects are 24 years old or younger and can help the Twins in 2025. I hope the Yankees try to give Minnesota a ring to test the waters.

Consider It: Trade for Adolis Garcia from the Texas Rangers

The thinking here is similar to the Buxton trade. The Texas Rangers have also been rumored to be cutting payroll amid TV rights battles. After a rough season, would they listen to the 31-year-old right fielder?

Garcia is coming off a weird year. In 2023, he put up a 4.6 fWAR, hit 39 home runs, and put up a .836 OPS. Then, in the playoffs, he hit eight home runs in 15 games and was named the ALCS MVP. From 2021-2022, he averaged a 3.0 fWAR with nearly 30 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Last season, his wRC+ dropped to 92, and his defense declined rapidly. He won the gold glove in 2023, but in 2024, he was a terrible defender in right field. The defense regressed mightily, as did his offense numbers. He couldn’t hit a fastball all year, recording a -15 RV against fastballs while hitting .184 with a .310 SLG against that pitch.

Is he just bad now? I have a hard time believing that. He will be 32 years old in 2025, and maybe a fresh start on a new team could get him back to being the player he was just last year.

I hope that when he’s hitting, the defense follows. It makes no sense that he would taper off that badly in one year on defense.

What would a package look like for Garcia? The Yankees would get him for two years, and he’s not very expensive. The package would have been enormous if they traded for him last year. At this point, they can buy low if the Rangers are willing to listen.

Spencer Jones, one of the Yankees’ best prospects, could be enough to get the deal done in a one-for-one swap. Jones is an exciting prospect due to his power potential, but after back-to-back seasons with an OPS under .800 in the minors with a lot of swing-and-miss, maybe both players could use a change of scenery. If that’s too rich for the Yankees, centering it around Roderick Arias while attaching another prospect should be enough to get these two teams talking.

If they were to trade for Adolis Garcia, signing Teoscar to play left field would be the best option. Teoscar is on the left, Judge is in the center, and Adolis Garcia is in the right field. That outfield will undoubtedly swing and miss a lot, but the power potential has me drooling.

Consider It: Trade for Christian Yelich from the Milwaukee Brewers

There is maybe a 1% chance of this happening, but this is my article and my fantasy world so just let me roll with it for a second.

Ryan Finkelstein wrote a piece last offseason on why the New York Mets are an ideal trade partner with the Brewers if they were interested in moving on. I recommend checking that article out because I’m stealing all of his analysis, but instead, I’m substituting “Yankees” for “Mets.” It’s only fair; you’re trying to steal Juan Soto from us anyway.

Yelich signed a 7-year, $188.5M extension with Milwaukee in 2020, so he will become an unrestricted free agent once he’s 38 years old in 2029. The Brewers will likely keep him because he’s fantastic, but the Brewers are always looking to move off big contracts.

He’s also likely to play DH now that Jackson Chourio, Garrett Mitchell, and Sal Frelick all look like building blocks. I could see them being willing to part with Yelich for the right price after only playing 73 games last year, a season ended by back surgery.

It’s difficult to say what the Brewers would want for him, but the Yankees have the system to make a move like this. Yelich is a fantastic bat when healthy, and in those 73 games he played last year, he stole 21 bases.

The Yankees need an influx of speed, among other elite qualities Yelich brings to the Brewers. He’s not Juan Soto, but at his best, it’s hard to find other left-handed hitters that can rival him.

The Yankees could acquire him without parting with Jasson Dominguez. Now that Adames is gone, they may want an infield prospect like a Roderick Arias, our sixth-ranked prospect in the Yankees system.

They could also add Ben Hess, the Yankees’ first-round pitching prospect from 2024 to the trade. If the Brewers want more, I’d be willing to include a pitcher like Henry Lalane, a 20-year-old left-hander with the tools to be a front-line pitcher. Three top-10 prospects in the Yankees system could get the Brewers to listen, but he likely stays put. I do think it’s a move worth exploring.

The Final Outfield

If the Yankees don’t sign Juan Soto, they should trade for Luis Robert and Jake McCarthy. The plan is to sign Kyle Tucker next season, forming an outfield of Aaron Judge, Luis Robert, and Kyle Tucker in 2026. If Dominguez is as good as he’s supposed to be, maybe you pivot, but going into next year with an outfield of Aaron Judge, Luis Robert, and Jasson Dominguez with Jake McCarthy as your fourth outfielder would be one of the best in the game.

Filling out the Rest of the Team

First Base: Sign Pete Alonso to a seven-year deal worth $175 million

Alright, Mets, two can play that game. Christian Walker is the cheaper option, but he’s less expensive for a reason. He’s three years older and likely wouldn’t be a big part of this Yankees team’s future.

I think the Mets are sneakily sending the Yankees a message. Juan Soto, Clay Holmes, and Frankie Montas were all former Yankees. Will they continue to shell out for Pete Alonso to come back? I doubt it, and wouldn’t it be nice to stick it to those same Mets that let you hit the open market?

The Yankees would form one of the better power duos of the 21st century if they added Alonso. I also think he’d be playing with a chip on his shoulder, and the Yankees need to add guys like that.

Starting Pitcher: Sign Max Fried to a seven-year deal worth $200M

Max Fried is worth a lot of money for plenty of good reasons. He’s thrown 824 innings since 2019, which ranks 20th in Major League Baseball among all qualified pitchers. In that span, he has a 3.06 ERA. Only Gerrit Cole has a lower ERA among those 20 pitchers.

He’s coming off a 2024 campaign with a 3.25 ERA, 3.64 xERA, and 3.33 FIP. His 58.8% groundball rate was the second-best in baseball, only trailing Framber Valdez. He’s consistent, and he’ll likely be a cheaper option than Corbin Burnes. It would be awesome to get Burnes, but if we are signing this many free agents, I’d prefer to go with Max Fried.

Second Base: Sign Ha-Seong Kim to a five-year deal worth $60M

Kim is one of the better defensive shortstops in the league, and he likely wants to sign with a team to play shortstop. Maybe, just maybe, he’d be interested in creating a dynamic up-the-middle defensive duo with Anthony Volpe if the price is right.

Kim does all the little things that a championship team needs. He’s an excellent defender and base runner and walks almost as much as he strikes out. He likely won’t hit more than 15 home runs in a season, but he could steal 40 bases. He’ll be 29 years old next year and has plenty of juice left to offer a team. I would love to see him in pinstripes, and I think he’d become a fan favorite quickly, as he did in San Diego.

Bullpen: Brian Cashman, go to work

I think Yankees GM Brian Cashman does an excellent job creating a bullpen. Yankee fans have mixed feelings about Clay Holmes, but we must remember the Yankees got him for nothing. I believe that Cashman will make the right moves in this bullpen, whether combing through the laundry list of free agents or making trades as he often does. I would love Tanner Scott on the Yankees, but I’m not a fan of signing relievers for a bunch of money. Cashman needs to get in his bag and form an elite bullpen.

The Juan Soto-less 2025 Yankees

The Opening Day lineup could look like if everything works out. In this scenario, the Yankees would spend about $450M this offseason, about $350 million less than Soto’s contract.

The only issue with this lineup is that it’s very right-handed. It’s got a ton of power, but adding Robert and Kim gives them much more speed on the bases. Is it perfect? No, but it’s still excellent and up there for one of the best lineups in baseball. They can slot Jake McCarthy in the outfield when Stanton inevitably goes down with an injury. That makes the defense better, adds a left-handed bat, and adds even more speed.

Rodon, as the number three, makes me feel a lot better about this rotation. A playoff duo of Cole and Snell is beyond elite, and Rodon’s value as a three-starter is much higher. If Luis Gil can continue his dominance from last year, you have four horses. That’s not even mentioning Clarke Schmidt, who would be one of the best back-of-the-rotation starters in Major League Baseball.

The End Result

This exercise made me feel better. There is light at the end of the tunnel without Juan Soto, and it’s much cheaper. The Yankees have their work cut out for them now that they lost Juan Soto, but I ask you, Yankee fans, after reading through the moves, are you okay with letting Soto walk now that the price is $800 million?