New York Yankees Reinforce Lineup Following Missed Opportunity to Acquire Juan Soto
Skipping the sweet deals sometimes pays off, and that's the case for the New York Yankees in 2025, if you ask me.
So far, they're reaping the benefits of not sealing a deal with Juan Soto, who inked a whopping 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets instead. The Yankees were keen to keep him, but Soto had other plans — opting for a 16-year, $760 million offer from the Bronx team.
The Yanks may have missed their chance with Soto, but they didn't let it go to waste. Instead, they used part of that funding to sign Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt as free agents and traded for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams. These moves totaled an estimated outlay of $283 million, a fraction of the long-term cost of bringing in Soto.
The team they've built? They're crushing it in the American League East, leading the Boston Red Sox by a comfortable nine-game margin already. They're already facing the Red Sox this weekend at Yankee Stadium.
Soto's batting averages and on-base plus slugging (OPS) aren't off the charts, yet. He's currently at .232 with 11 homers, 31 RBIs and an .802 OPS, improving steadily, having hit three homers in his last five games as of Wednesday night. On the other hand, Aaron Judge's OPS is a monstrous 1.237 as the Mets battle for first place in the National League East with the Philadelphia Phillies.
With Soto on their team, the Mets may have had a more potent offense. But as of now, the Yankees are winning the race.
"Right now, it seems that way," said David Cone, the former Yankees pitcher and current ESPN and Yes Network color analyst. "Ten years from now, we'll make that judgment, but this year, the first half of the season? Absolutely."
But the Yankees' success isn't a long-term guarantee. Max Fried, signed for eight years and $218 million, has a history of left arm problems, including a Tommy John surgery and a forearm issue. Bellinger, Goldschmidt, and Williams can all walk away after this season, potentially giving the Yankees more financial room next offseason to snag free agents or upgrade at the trade deadline.
The Yankees are currently the third-highest payroll in Major League Baseball for luxury tax purposes at $310.9 million, but their spending strategy has been artistically economical under today's system. They got more bang for their buck with the signings of Fried, Bellinger, Goldschmidt, and Williams, while Soto is earning $61.2 million alone from the Mets for luxury tax purposes.
"They've done very well with the money they spent this year, no question about it," Cone said. "The Yankees are much more well-rounded defensively."
Without Soto, the Yankees have balanced their lineup and defense, catching up with the Dodgers offensively and depth-wise. Fried wouldn't be a Yankee had Soto chosen differently. The moment Soto signed with the Mets, the ball started rolling for the Yankees, with Williams, Bellinger, and Goldschmidt joining the team in quick succession. When the Yankees shut their offseason shop, they were ready for the new season.
While Williams has had his ups and downs, the other three have exceeded expectations. Fried, for one, replaced the injured Gerrit Cole and started 7-0 with a 1.28 ERA before losing to the Dodgers this past Friday. His experience pitching in Yankee Stadium has surpassed his expectations.
"I love it," Fried said. "I'm very happy with where I'm at. Everything happened for a reason. I'm just happy I'm here with the Yankees."
The Yankees are grateful to have him, too. In the end, sometimes the deals you don't make are the ones that work out best.
The Yankees, despite missing out on Juan Soto, have found success by signing Max Fried and Paul Goldschmidt as free agents and trading for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams, creating a formidable team in the American League East.
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These acquisitions totaled an estimated outlay of $283 million, a fraction of the long-term cost of bringing in Soto, and have resulted in a well-rounded lineup and defense, rivaling the offensive and depth capabilities of the Dodgers.
