Breaking news : 3 Black Friday free-agent bargains the Yankees can sign with Juan Soto’s money
The New York Yankees’ top offseason priority is fairly straightforward: re-sign Juan Soto.
Aaron Judge has made his plea to ownership. Every fan has made their feelings heard, whether it’s a silent prayer at night or a loud and unambiguous message on social media. Hal Steinbrenner knows the assignment. It remains to be seen if he can complete it, though.
Despite all the Yankees accomplished with Soto last season, there’s a sense that money will be the deciding factor in free agency. That positions the New York Mets as unavoidable frontrunners. Steve Cohen has the deepest pockets in baseball and the Mets are looking to build on an unexpected NLCS run. Soto loves New York, but he has made sure to keep the Yankees at arm’s length all season, constantly hinting at his willingness to listen to outside offers.
If the Yankees do whiff on re-signing Soto, that isn’t necessarily catastrophic. It sucks, but assuming the Yankees are prepared to drop $600 million-plus on Soto’s doorstep, there’s a lot that front office can accomplish by using those funds elsewhere. This is a deep free agent pool with several All-Stars in search of new homes.
Here are a few potential Juan Soto replacements that should appeal to the Yankees.
Jack Flaherty was front and center for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series run, leading a depleted rotation all the way to the promised land. The Yankees could use another frontline ace to shoulder the workload behind Gerrit Cole. Expect New York to inquire about the likes of Corbin Burnes or Max Fried, but Jack Flaherty ought to come at a slightly more reasonable price.
There’s plenty to like about Flaherty, who’s coming off his best season (and postseason) to date. He made 28 starts between Detroit and LA, finishing with a 3.17 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. He recorded 194 punch-outs in 162.0 innings, ranking near the top of the National League in that category. Flaherty has dizzying stuff and a plucky demeanor that would play well to the New York crowd.
He’s an LA kid, born and raised, but the Dodgers just kicked him to the curb for Blake Snell. That could mean Flaherty develops a taste for revenge, and what better pathway than teaming up with LA’s World Series foe? There’s a nonzero chance we end up with a Dodgers-Yankees rematch next autumn — the Dodgers certainly feel unbeatable in the NL — and Flaherty would help boost the Yankees’ chances in a competitive AL, even if Soto departs.
New York needs pitching help regardless, but adding an ace with a personal vendetta is good for business. Flaherty is on the ascent and he has some postseason gems under his belt now. This is a potential steal.
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