New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman hosted the media on Thursday, a day after acquiring outfielders Juan Soto from the San Diego Padres.
"We want to make this the Mecca of baseball"
Brian Cashman on the Yankees enticing star players like Juan Soto to remain with the franchise long-term: pic.twitter.com/i5PhmHP4VS
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The Yankees completed a seven-player deal with the centrepiece headed to New York in 25-year-old Juan Soto, a three-time All-Star on a Hall of Fame track.
GM Cashman said the Yankees plan to keep Soto, who is entering the final year of his contract in New York. Soto has been reported to declined a 14-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals before he was traded to the San Diego Padres in July 2022.
Cashman also addressed a potential extension with Soto as part of the Yankees’ plans for the rest of the offseason. As part of the plan Soto is anticipate to be starting in centre field if the season began today.
Speaking with the media, Yankees GM extended full confidence in their recruitment strategy, be it to Soto or to other top players.
He said,
“George Steinbrenner (late owner) always felt that the best players in the world should play here for the New York Yankees. Acquiring and retaining top talent is part of his vision to make the Yankees the Mecca of baseball.”
Cashman also added via ESPN
“The culture we have with the Yankees that we project constantly is our intent to win. We’re here. We’re in it to win it. So that’s messaging that’s constantly being reinforced”
“So I think that’s a recruiting beacon for anybody. I know the question is specifically about Juan Soto, but I think we certainly want to try always under the Steinbrenner leadership to make this the mecca of baseball.”
The acquisition of Soto will fill a major need for the franchise, adding a top-tier left-handed bat to fill the vacancy in left field
