Aaron Decide has Hal Steinbrenner’s ear on all issues Yankees-related, and the captain not too long ago delivered this message to the membership’s managing common accomplice: We have to re-sign Juan Soto.
Decide mentioned that he met with Steinbrenner in Tampa, Fla., a few week after the World Collection to debate “quite a lot of issues” that will strengthen the 2025 roster, together with Soto, who’s now a free agent. Decide mentioned that he has not spoken with Soto because the Fall Traditional.
“I believe one of the best factor is to actually give these guys area,” Decide mentioned in a convention name on Friday to debate his choice because the American League’s Most Beneficial Participant. “I talked to him all season. He is aware of how we really feel about him.
“I believe crucial factor is now letting him do his factor along with his household — pray about it, discuss with individuals and are available to the correct choice for him and his household. So I haven’t talked to him in any respect.”
The mixture of Soto and Decide within the Yankees’ lineup lived as much as expectations, with the dynamic duo combining for 99 dwelling runs and 253 RBIs through the common season. Decide in contrast Soto’s impression to the highest of the Dodgers’ lineup, the place Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman all hit so as.
“Having an opportunity to have Juan hitting in entrance of me, I get to see quite a lot of pitches,” Decide mentioned. “He’s going to be a troublesome at-bat in entrance of me. He’s going to put on down the pitcher proper there within the first inning, inside the first 15 pitches or so. I believe that was a big effect, having a man like that in entrance of you. If I may have eight Juan Sotos within the lineup with me, I’d love that.”
Decide is the Yankees’ highest-paid participant, incomes $40 million yearly by way of 2031. Soto is prone to surpass that mark along with his subsequent deal, with such deep-pocketed golf equipment because the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Phillies and Crimson Sox reportedly excited about bidding.
Ought to Soto wrap his winter drawing the Yankees’ highest wage, Decide mentioned he would haven’t any situation.
“Truthfully, it ain’t my cash,” Decide mentioned. “I actually don’t care, so long as we get one of the best gamers, we get probably the most that we will. I’m proud of no matter. That’s by no means been one thing on my thoughts, about who will get paid probably the most. …
“Giancarlo Stanton was a man that set that instance. He by no means actually cared, despite the fact that he signed a mega contract again in Miami. As soon as he got here right here, he didn’t care about being the highest-paid man. He simply wished good gamers round him.”
The Yankees met with Soto and agent Scott Boras earlier this week in Newport Seashore, Calif. — a session attended by Steinbrenner, workforce president Randy Levine, common supervisor Brian Cashman, supervisor Aaron Boone and senior adviser Omar Minaya. Talking on the Homeowners Conferences earlier this week in Manhattan, Steinbrenner referred to as it a “good assembly” and mentioned that he expects to be “within the combine” for Soto.
Steinbrenner mentioned that if Soto re-signs, he would get pleasure from the identical direct pipeline to possession that Decide and right-hander Gerrit Cole have had in current seasons.
Decide mentioned that, for him, that relationship blossomed after they negotiated straight throughout his free company following the 2022 season. In the course of the season, Decide mentioned he and Steinbrenner sometimes spoke a minimum of as soon as throughout every homestand, discussing gamers in addition to coaches and potential upgrades to the workforce’s services.
“He actually type of opened it as much as me, if I had any enter, if I had any emotions about issues,” Decide mentioned. “As a result of he’s not down within the clubhouse, he’s not down on the sphere each single day.
“So I believe simply having that relationship to the place I can talk with him about what I’m seeing, what I’m feeling, what I see with the fellows, what I see in opposition to different guys that we play in opposition to — you already know, I like it. I believe it’s a cool half. The extra communication you’ve from prime to backside, it makes all people higher.”
