Since last Dec. 5 - damn, almost an exact year from today, when the Death Barge drained its farm system in The Trade, Yank fans have obsessed over Juan Soto's long term future. Would he stay or would he go? The lady or the tiger? The question loomed over us. It rattled us. It altered us.
If we behaved nicely, if we always cheered him, if we gave unconditional love, Soto - a generational talent - might stay a Yankee for life - which, by the way, used to be every child's dream.
And you know what? We held up our end. We never waivered. When Soto had a big game, the Gammonites spent the next day opining over his future. We just cheered. When Soto homered in the playoffs, the Fox Sports flunky bleated, "The price just went up!" We just cheered. And when Soto went 0-for-4, or botched a fly, we said nothing. Not one boo, all season, not one. Never.
We held up our end.
On that note, please understand: I'm not complaining. God forbid. Nobody wants to be the hell-bound critic whose bile provoked the great man to leave. Nope. Not me.
But this auction, this bidding war, this grand farce of fake capitalism, it needs to end - like - now.
One year is long enough.
Rest assured, if Soto stays, we'll love him as a son. He will forever be cheered in Yankee Stadium.
If he goes to a small market, far away, we'll thank him for his service and wish him well. We won't like it, but we'll understand.
If he signs with the Mets or Redsocks - a sharp poke directly into our eyes - we'll hate him forever with the heat of a billion suns.
Listen: He's got a decision to make. Since last December 5, or since the day he signed with Scott Boras, Soto made it clear his future would hinge upon the bottom line: Whomever paid the most money, that team would carry his allegiance.
So be it. I don't blame him. Money is money. He loves only gold. Only gold.
But Soto has never experienced the anger of a Yankiverse scorned. He seems to be oblivious to the negativity that would come from signing with a rival. Does he believe that a speech thanking Yankee fans will quell the rage? I hope Boras has talked to him about that.
But, hey, sometimes, there's only one way to learn what cannot be bought with money. Maybe Soto has to discover this on his own, the hard way. That would be sad - really sad - when he walks to the plate in Yankee Stadium, wearing a Boston jersey. I wonder if he's ever, in his life, experienced that kind of booing?
As for me, All I want is for this to end. Color me dumfungled.
This "Empire Sports Media" does not seem confident about the Yanks' chances: https://empiresportsmedia.com/new-york-yankees/yankees-top-out-at-550-million-for-superstar-outfielder/
ReplyDeleteThis article will come as no surprise to any reader of this worth blog. Abandon hope and prepare yourselves for the worst.
DeleteSoto is boo-proof. He doesn't choke, doesn't get rattled, doesn't need any external horseshit to motivate him. He plays the same all the time and that's the beauty of Soto the player. As fans we never have to think about the moment being too big for Soto - it's not.
ReplyDeleteI'll happily root for him wherever he winds up.
Soto may keep his emotions in check during a game. But should he sign with the Mets or, even worse, the RedSox, he had better instruct his lackeys to visit every bodega and convenience store in a two-mile radius to buy out their stock of Eveready batteries.
ReplyDelete$700M will ease his anxiety wherever he lands. It won’t be here.
ReplyDeleteYou are a reasonable man, Duque. Soto probably knows that Hal is reviled by us and he sees that Hal has not dropped dead yet, so our anger may be impotent. More likely, Soto just doesn’t care and he is truly being honest about the money and the choice is ours. We already know what Hal and Brian are going to do. It’s a good day to eat pasta and take a nap.
ReplyDeletePasta and a nap.
ReplyDeleteYankees no blow El Soto.
We cry all winter.
If its Tuesday it must be Haiku....
DeleteWAIT !
I love how some sportswriters say it's a three-team race for Soto: the Yankees, the Mets, and the Red Sox. lolololololol
ReplyDeleteI saw another doofus in Jersey who says for sure, it's the Sox. LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL
And whither Atlanta? Baltimore? Miami? Or even Houston? All East Coast, or close enough. Sure, Miami has no intention of winning anything, ever again. But hey, you can't predict baseball.
Besides, Soto does care about more than money. That's why he wants to know about farm systems and prospects and commitments to win rings. He's not as shallow as he's made out to be. Almost, but not quite.
If he doesn't sign with Yanks, he could at least do the fans a service and tell the truth. Lay it bare. "They can't win there. They talk about winning, but the true commitments not there. Or its there but they really don't know how. Its not the players. Great guys. Its management. Their system, process whatever is so weird. Turns strenths into weaknesses, chases fads. Something's missing in the front office. It'd be a waste to sign there. I'm sorry"
ReplyDeleteBoras would never let him burn bridges. So honesty is out of the question.
DeleteHAL and CashBrain have the money to ensure Soto stays. Why did they trade for him if they weren't going to then sign him? This is all on HAL and CashBrain. I wish Soto well in his new endeavours.
ReplyDeleteI'm with Mildred, The Warbler, and JM. I would never boo Soto, a real pro who gives it his all, all the time. And I agree with Publius: I hope if and when he goes, he tells us all the reasons why—though I doubt that he will...
ReplyDelete...But the really stunning news here, if accurate, is the Yankees' place in the competition. Fourth? FOURTH??? And their ceiling was $550 mill? Hell, I knew that wasn't going to get it done, going into this. The Yankees almost undoubtedly knew it back when they first got him.
ReplyDeleteSo this has all been a farce from the very beginning. They wasted four young pitchers, when they never had any intention of using him as more than a rental. Un-fucking-believable.
550 million ain't getting done? Man that feels dirty. But that's the reality and don't give me horseshit about "Made our best offer". Just pay the man and let's move on to signing a first baseman and a damn real guy who plays third.
ReplyDeletenegotiations continue - to disappoint and depress - hopefully we'll all be surprised next week
ReplyDeleteSal Licata saying tonight on SNY that this might be a piece of backhanded good news for the Yanks; that the $550 mill figure might be leaked from Boras, as a way to make Hal up his offer, because Soto does want to return. I think this might be pure Pollyanna, but who can say?
ReplyDeleteJohn Jastrzemski on the same show, saying that if the Yanks don't get this done, no excuses. And if it's not even Mr. Bottomless Pockets over in Flushing—if it's the RED SOX, and the Yanks are 4th in the bidding...there will be fury in the fan base, and forget all the "Plan Bs." I think he's right.
Late to the party, I know. But I gotta weigh in. So far, it seems the Yankees have one of the lowest bids for Soto's services. Up to 150 million shy of the top offer and at least 1 year shy of other offers.
ReplyDeleteFirst, they completely underestimated him, thinking that they could bamboozle him. He asked probing questions about the team's player development operations and their commitment to championship-caliber teams year after year. I'm sure they told him the same line of crap we hear year after year. Only with fine wine and an excellent steak.
As if he didn't already know they were full of $#!t.
And then, they low balled him. (shakes head in disgust)
This is a defining moment, Mr. Intern. Better turn your Dad's painting to the wall, if you fail, Hal. Sign Soto and keep that checkbook open for another starting pitcher, half a bullpen, a 3rd baseman, a 1st basemen and a quality left fielder who can hit above .200. You don't have any talent to trade and your player development team couldn't grow grass in Ireland, let alone develop a successful major leaguer. So you have to buy the talent you can't develop on your own.
If you want Soto, offer him top dollar AND commit to filling all those positions with championship-caliber players. Soto is not settling for anything less and neither will we.