The Juan Soto sweepstakes is still going strong for the New York Yankees. According to reports, Soto’s bidding has surpassed the $600 million threshold and is only getting higher. The Yankees are still in the running to sign the great outfielder, who is anticipated to make a decision in the next few days. Alongside Soto, New York might make a move similar to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ signing of Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Shohei Ohtani in the same offseason last year.

According to a recent report by Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees may try to acquire both Soto and Corbin Burnes, the best pitcher available. Among Corbin Burnes’ primary teams are the Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles. Heyman posted on Twitter/X on Thursday, “NYY might, might do both Soto and Burnes (but of course, they’d look to save $ elsewhere if they did).”

Before delving too deeply, let me state that there is little chance that this proposal will ever be realized. However, I can map it out here, and there is a chance.

It is anticipated that Soto will sign a contract for between $650 million and $700 million. It is anticipated that Burnes will sign a contract between $180 million to $250 million. The total cost to contract both players in a single summer, if we reach a compromise, would be $890 million. However, the Yankees may learn from the Dodgers and accomplish this. What am I discussing? Money deferred

According to reports, Soto rejected the idea of deferred payment in his contract, but Burnes did not. The Yankees could get both players in a week or two if they can sign Soto and then negotiate a highly deferred contract with Burnes. Again, though, this is quite improbable. The New York Mets are anticipated to actively pursue Burnes as a backup if the Yankees sign Soto. I don’t think the Yankees will be able to outbid the Mets and Steve Cohen for both Soto and Burnes.

The Yankees are rumored to be interested in replacing Anthony Rizzo with a 31-home run slugger.

The New York Yankees may look to the trade market to cover their first base need.

Anthony Rizzo became a free agent after the Yankees rejected his player option. As a result, Christian Walker and Paul Goldschmidt, among other free agent first basemen, have been connected to New York.

However, Josh Goldberg of theScore has now suggested that the Yankees may replace Anthony Rizzo by acquiring Josh Naylor, a hitting first baseman for the Cleveland Guardians.

According to Goldberg, “Naylor doesn’t seem like an obvious trade candidate at first glance.” The Guardians’ Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel, on the other hand, are more suited to playing first base or as a designated hitter. Before becoming a free agent, Naylor is expected to earn $12 million in his last season of arbitration. The Guardians have never been a team that feels comfortable spending large sums of money, and they finished in the bottom 10 in payroll last season. particularly in a role where there are more affordable internal alternatives.

Goldberg went on to say that the Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Yankees would be the best teams to trade for Naylor.

Naylor had 108 RBIs and 31 home runs during the previous season with the Guardians. He could bat fourth or fifth in the Yankees lineup, which would be a good replacement for Rizzo’s bat. Their squad would become even more powerful as a result.

The Yankees don’t intend to try to get back together with Rizzo.
There was still speculation that the Yankees may try to re-sign Rizzo even after New York rejected the player option on his contract.

But according to Jack Curry of YES Network, the Yankees have no intention of bringing Rizzo back.

The Yankees seem to be prepared to let go of two of their starting infielders. As of right now, New York has no intention of pursuing Gleyber Torres or Anthony Rizzo in free agency this summer. According to the publication, “both players indicated interest in coming back, but it seems the club has other plans.”

There is a void at first base since the Yankees are not interested in getting back together with Rizzo. Now, New York will have to deal with it through trade or free agency. Additionally, Naylor’s name makes sense for them.

The Yankees will pursue it “aggressively.” Walker, Christian

Walker has been connected to the Yankees over the off-season. In early November, USA Today’s MLB source Bob Nightengale also said that New York was making a serious run for the slugging first baseman.

Three-time Gold Glove first baseman Christian Walker was the most sought-after name among free agent players not named Juan Soto, who agent Scott Boras refers to as the “Mona Lisa” of the free agent market. who played with the Arizona Diamondbacks for the previous eight years. Over the past three years, he has averaged 33 home runs,” Nightengale noted.

At least six teams intend to make a serious run at Walker. All parties involved, including the Washington Nationals, the Diamondbacks, and the New York Yankees, think he will cost less than half as much as (Pete) Alonso,” Nightengale continued.

In his final season with the Diamondbacks, Walker hit.251 with 26 home runs and 84 RBIs.