ANAHEIM, Calif. — Juan Soto needs little help endorsing himself ahead of his looming free agency, his top-tier talent speaking for itself.
But his agent, Scott Boras, has added a new line to Soto’s résumé: “centurion,” as in one of the top 100 players to ever play the game.
“I don’t think centurions, for any team, are what you would consider a cost to a team, because it’s franchise-appreciation addition,” Boras told reporters on Tuesday from his suite at Angel Stadium before the Yankees’ 4-3 loss. “So whatever your franchise is worth, a centurion on your team would thereby make the team worth billions more.”
Boras’ comments came after Hal Steinbrenner said last week that the Yankees’ payroll this season — currently about $313 million for luxury-tax purposes — was “simply not sustainable.” The Yankees do have roughly $40 million set to come off the books next season in pending free agents, and Soto is currently making $31 million in his final year of arbitration. He added to his appeal with his 15th home run of the season Tuesday, a solo blast in the first inning. He finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.
Still, Steinbrenner has said he hopes to start contract talks with Soto and Boras during the season, even if it remains overwhelmingly likely that Soto reaches free agency, when the then-26-year-old outfielder is expected to land a contract in excess of $500 million.
“In general, centurion-type players add literally millions and millions of dollars to a franchise value,” Boras said. “The opportunity for investment like this comes along in an owner’s career very rarely.
“When you represent a centurion … you don’t worry about what the cost of them to a franchise is because they increase the value of a team. The only cost you worry about is the cost to build a monument.”
Boras said he and Steinbrenner “talk all the time” and have a “really good relationship.”
After Steinbrenner’s comments earlier this month about hoping to engage with Soto and Boras, the Yankees star said his “door is always open.”
“If they want to call Scott and start talking about it, it’s up to them,” Soto said May 16. “Scott, they know his phone number and everything. They know where to call. For me right here, I’m focusing on playing baseball. My thing is try to help the team to win as much games as we can and try to focus on winning a championship. I think that’s what [Steinbrenner] would want me to do at the end of the day, just focus on playing baseball and try to win games.”
The Nationals and Padres have both previously tried to extend Soto, only to end up trading him.
Soto reiterated Friday, in his return to San Diego, that he was not closing any doors with regard to free agency.
“Whoever wants to talk about deals, I’m open to dealing with anybody,” Soto said. “But that’s going to be in the future. We’re going to see if we make it to the future, but right now, I’m focusing on 2024. I’m a Yankee right now. My goals are really clear, to win a championship.”
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