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Juan Soto had his introductory news conference with the New York Yankees on Tuesday, greeting the media on a Zoom call wearing a Yankees hat — and although he smiled when asked about putting on the hat for the first time, he did not commit to signing a contract extension.

He also didn’t rule it out.

“They know where to call and who to talk to,” he said, referring to agent Scott Boras. “I’m here just to play baseball.”

That was the message Soto repeated throughout the 30-minute session. He’s looking forward to meeting his new teammates — Aaron Judge, among others, has already reached out to him — and learning about the organization.

His perfect season is winning a championship. He’ll bring energy to the ballpark and the clubhouse every game. Eligible for free agency after the 2024 season, however, Soto understands he’ll face constant questions about staying in New York, and said it won’t be difficult focusing on baseball rather than his potential monster payday that some forecast as a $400 million contract.

“I’ve been doing it for six years,” he said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that hard. Scott Boras is my agent. I put everything on him and let him give his advice. My mindset is to come here to play baseball and try to win a championship.”

That’s why the Yankees made the deal: They missed the playoffs in 2023 for the first time since 2016 after finishing 25th in the majors in runs scored. The Yankees acquired Soto and center fielder Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres on Dec. 6 for right-handed pitchers Michael King, Randy Vasquez, Jhony Brito and Drew Thorpe and catcher Kyle Higashioka.

One of the most precocious hitters in recent memory, Soto reached the majors as a 19-year-old in 2018 and helped the Washington Nationals win the World Series in 2019, hitting .333 with three home runs in the seven-game victory over the Houston Astros.

Compared to Ted Williams for his ability to get on base at such a high rate, he maybe hasn’t quite reached those lofty expectations, but since his first full season in 2019, no hitter has created more estimated runs than Soto. According to Baseball-Reference, he has produced 208 runs more than the average hitter; Freddie Freeman and Judge are tied for second at 189 runs. He has led the majors in walks each of the past three seasons and has posted a .400-plus on-base percentage each year of his career, leading the majors in 2020 (.490) and 2021 (.465).

The Yankees were also especially desperate for some left-handed thump for the lineup: They were 27th in OPS from left-handed hitters (.673) and 28th in home runs (55). Grisham also hits left-handed, as does Alex Verdugo, acquired from the Boston Red Sox in another trade.

While the Padres disappointed as a team, Soto hit .275/.410/.519 with 35 home runs, 109 RBIs and 132 walks, ranking ninth in the majors in OPS. That figure could climb as he moves to Yankee Stadium, where he has hit four home runs in 28 career plate appearances. He also moves away from Petco Park, a tough place for hitters, as he hit 23 of his 35 home runs on the road. Soto sprays the ball around the field but should still be able to take advantage of the short right-field wall at Yankee Stadium.

“I know there’s a really short porch right there and it’s going to be on your mind,” he said, “but I’m definitely going to try to stay to the same approach that I’ve been doing.”

Still, given the Yankees gave up Michael King — who projected as one of their starting pitchers — in the trade, plus three other young potential starters in Thorpe, Vasquez and Brito, there will be pressure on general manager Brian Cashman and ownership to sign Soto. After all, the Yankees have passed on other big-name hitters in recent years: Bryce Harper, Manny Machado and, this offseason, Shohei Ohtani.

Given Soto’s age and production, an extension may surpass Mike Trout‘s $426 million contract as the second biggest in the sport. Soto reportedly turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Nationals in 2022, prompting the trade that summer to the Padres.

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Journalism opens as 8-5 favorite for Preakness

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Journalism opens as 8-5 favorite for Preakness

HALETHORPE, Md. — Journalism is the morning line favorite for the 150th running of the Preakness Stakes.

The Kentucky Derby runner-up to Sovereignty opened at odds of 8-5 on Monday night when post positions were drawn for the middle leg of horse racing’s Triple Crown. Journalism is again set to be ridden by jockey Umberto Rispoli and leave the starting gate from the No. 2 post.

Post time is set for 7:01 p.m. EDT on Saturday.

No. 7 Sandman is the 4-1 second choice in the field of nine, which does not include Sovereignty after his owners and trainer decided not to run the Derby winner two weeks after his triumph at Churchill Downs. The Preakness goes on without a true shot at a Triple Crown winner for a fifth time in seven years since Justify swept all three races in 2018.

Bob Baffert, who trained Justify and 2015 Triple Crown champion American Pharoah, is entering Goal Oriented looking for a record-extending ninth victory in the race. Fellow Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas can tie Baffert if he wins the Preakness back-to-back, this time with American Promise a year after Seize the Grey ended Mystik Dan’s Triple Crown bid.

There are three Derby horses running in the $2 million Preakness at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore: Journalism, American Promise and Sandman, the latter of whom will be ridden by John Velazquez for trainer Mark Casse. American Promise drew the No. 3 post and opened at odds of 15-1.

New to the Triple Crown trail, along with No. 1 Goal Oriented (6-1), are No. 4 Heart of Honor (12-1), No. 5 Pay Billy (20-1), No. 6 River Thames (9-2), No. 8 Clever Again (5-1) and No. 9 Gosger (20-1).

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U.S. shut out by Switzerland at hockey worlds

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U.S. shut out by Switzerland at hockey worlds

HERNING, Denmark — Switzerland, last year’s runner-up, shut out the United States 3-0 and handed the Americans their first loss at the ice hockey world championship Monday.

Damien Riat, Jonas Siegenthaler and Dean Kukan scored in the Group B game in Herning. Netminder Leonardo Genoni stopped 23 shots for the shutout.

“Give credit to Switzerland,” U.S. coach Ryan Warsofsky said. “But I know our group has a lot more in them. We’ll regroup and get ready to play Norway.”

Riat put Switzerland ahead with 7:14 remaining in the first period, redirecting the puck into the goal from the air. It was the first goal the U.S. conceded at the tournament.

The second followed 3:13 later by Siegenthaler from the blue line. Kukan’s came halfway through the final period from the top of the left circle.

“After the first goal we did a better job,” Swiss forward Kevin Fiala said. “We got into it more and more, and shut them out.”

Fiala recorded an assist in his first game at the worlds. He joined the Swiss late after his Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the NHL playoffs in the first round.

U.S. goalie Joey Daccord made 24 saves.

The U.S., which beat Denmark 5-0 and Hungary 6-0 in its first two games, will next face Norway on Wednesday.

In other games, Martin Necas had two goals and David Pastrnak had a goal and two assists as the defending champion Czech Republic used a four-goal middle period to ease past Denmark 7-2.

Nick Olesen also had a goal and an assist for Denmark.

In Stockholm, Sweden topped archrival Finland 2-1 on goals from Leo Carlsson and Jonas Brodin for a third victory in regulation from three games.

Austria defeated Slovakia 3-2 in a penalty shootout.

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Leafs’ Domi fined $5K for hit to Panthers’ Barkov

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Leafs' Domi fined K for hit to Panthers' Barkov

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Domi was fined $5,000 — the maximum amount allowed by the league’s collective bargaining agreement — for boarding Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov as time expired in Game 4 of their second-round Eastern Conference playoff series Sunday.

Toronto was trailing 2-0 when the final buzzer sounded, and Domi hit Barkov from behind, sending him headfirst into the boards. Domi was given a minor penalty for boarding at the time while several other scrums broke out before officials moved players off the ice.

Florida’s victory evened the best-of-seven series at 2-all. Game 5 is set for Wednesday in Toronto.

Toronto coach Craig Berube didn’t comment on the Domi hit directly Monday, but he did say he thought Dmitry Kulikov‘s hit on Mitch Marner “was way worse”

On that play, the Panthers defenseman caught Marner up high with an elbow, leaving the Leafs forward momentarily dazed. No penalty was called on Kulikov.

It wasn’t the first elbowing incident to draw attention in the series.

In Game 1, Panthers forward Sam Bennett sent an elbow to the head of Leafs netminder Anthony Stolarz shortly before Stolarz left the game. He was later hospitalized for further evaluation and hasn’t been able to resume skating since. There is currently no timeline for his return.

The physical intensity of the series might continue to rise now that it’s down to being a best-of-three. Based on how Game 4 played out, the Leafs are prepared to push back when they host Florida on Wednesday.

“We expected [the physicality], and I think we’re fine with it,” Berube said. “We’re handling it. We’re physical. I thought we were the more physical team [in Game 4].”

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