NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 14: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees hits a home run during the 3rd inning of Game One of the American League Championship Series against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on October 14, 2024 in New York City.
Juan Soto is going to be the marquee free agent this off-season. He is currently helping carry the Yankees in the playoffs and has them up 2-0 over the Guardians. That is despite Aaron Judge hitting just .167. Every team who can afford it are going to want him, and he is going to get a crazy payday.
Will the Phillies be one of those teams though? It might seem unlikely, they are already up against the Luxury Tax, and there is not much money coming off the books this offseason. You would think that would pull them out of the Juan Soto sweepstakes. But this week Jayson Stark joined The Best Show Ever, and told us why we can’t rule it out completely.
“The owner wants to win and the owner is willing to pay whatever it takes if the player he’s purchasing is the missing piece. I think they would view Juan Soto as a franchise-changing figure. I don’t think that is going to happen. But if the money is there, and the winning part, and the connection with the hitting coach is there, why would it be zero?”
(Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Is Juan Soto To The Phillies Realistic?
That was not the only time he brought up Juan Soto either. earlier in the interview he talked about how he thinks John Middleton would write the check. He said the same thing after this quote too.
Often players go where the money is. Other things play a factor, like location, and the ability to win. But if the Phillies offer him the biggest payday, he could come here. And as Jayson Stark has said multiple times, Middleton is willing to pay whatever it takes if it gets him his trophy back.
If they did that, they may need to move some money around. It might start with dumping Nick Castellanos somewhere, who has 2 years and $40 million left on his deal. After an impressive postseason, on top of a good second half of the season, his contract might be easier to move this offseason than it was last year. You don’t move him just to move him, but if you can get Juan Soto, you move on from him in a heartbeat.
Don’t hold your breath. The Yankees might win a World Series, with him leading the way. If that happens, it feels like the Yankees will open up their coffers to ensure he doesn’t leave the city. But you can dream a little bit.
Dylan MacKinnon is The Digital Content Coordinator For 97.5 The Fanatic. he has been an Eagles, Flyers, Sixers, and Flyers fan his whole life. He graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors in Journalism. Dylan has worked at the Fanatic since 2016, starting as an Intern, moving to the Street team, and eventually was hired as an Associate Producer before settling into his current role in the Digital Department. You may hear him referred to on-air as "The D-Train."
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