After pulling off a blockbuster deal to acquire star outfielder Juan Soto, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman made it clear his team is all in for 2024.
Cashman said on Thursday, while meeting with reporters over Zoom to discuss the trade, he hasn't had any extension talks with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras.
"The future is always now," he said. "[2024] is our focus, and trying to become that last team standing once again, as we've done in years gone by ... that's what the Yankees are all about."
The 25-year-old Soto is entering his final year of team control, and is widely expected to hit free agency next off-season in lieu of negotiating a long-team deal. He had declined a 15-year, $440-million offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022.
"We understand that it's a possible short-term situation," Cashman said, when asked if any extension conversations had begun. "I know he's just going to make our team significantly better, but it's not going be just him. We've got to continue working out what else we can add to this roster."
A three-time All-Star, Soto is projected to earn $33 million in arbitration this winter, making him a prime trade candidate for a San Diego Padres team that was looking to shed salary this off-season after needing to take a $50-million loan to help pay player salaries in 2024.
The Yankees sent a package of five players headlined by right-handed starter Michael King and top prospect Drew Thorpe.
"We are really excited by what this acquisition can do for both balance and impact," Cashman said of the acquisition.
"It's another manifestation of the Steinbrenner legacy. I think George Steinbrenner always felt that the best players in the world should play here for the New York Yankees."
A six-year MLB veteran, Soto slashed .27/.410/.519 in 2023 and hit a career-best 35 home runs. The left-handed hitter should be a seamless fit in New York, especially considering the short porch in right field.
Over his career, Soto has played in 779 games and owns a .946 OPS with 160 home runs, 483 RBIs and 640 walks.
Cashman said that the Yankees had actually spoken with the Padres about a potential Soto deal at the trade deadline, but San Diego decided to keep the outfielder in hopes of making a post-season push.
"We're just very proud that we can call him a Yankee at this time, with the full intentions of taking a shot at a title and navigating the American League East," Cashman said. "It's a challenge, no doubt about it. But we want to be up for that challenge."
Outside the Soto trade, Cashman confirmed that New York's focus will turn to the pitching market this off-season. In separate trades for Soto and Alex Verdugo, the Yankees sent out seven pitchers.
"Pitching is definitely an area of focus, without a doubt," he said. "It was before these deals, but since we lost pitching to make these deals, pitching is going to be important."
With an outfield group now made up of Soto, Verdugo, Trent Grisham and the 2022 AL MVP Aaron Judge, Cashman was asked if he is comfortable with lining Judge up as the starting centre fielder for 2024 because the 31-year-old is coming off an injury-riddled season.
"If today was opening day, Judge would be our centre fielder," he said. "We had a lot of conversations with that scenario. But I think we're better-protected, in a lot of different ways."
