Soto brushes off contract talk: ‘Here just to play’
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David Schoenfield, ESPN Senior Writer
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.
New York Mets left fielder Brandon Nimmo sat out Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves because of soreness on his right side, but he said it was realistic that he’ll return to the lineup on Monday.
Nimmo exited Saturday’s game after the fourth inning with right intercostal irritation. He felt discomfort when he held up on a swing in the second and was checked by manager Carlos Mendoza and an athletic trainer.
Nimmo, who is hitting .228 with five home runs and a team-high 25 RBI, said core testing went well and he wanted to see if he could play Sunday night, but Mendoza nixed that idea this early in the season. Nimmo said he won’t have an MRI unless problems arise when he tries swinging, which he planned to do Sunday evening.
“Everything looks good right now,” Nimmo said. “… It’s a little like, sore. So it’s like as if you worked out on it or something like that maybe a little too much. But other than that, it’s pretty good.”
The Mets start a series vs. the Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.
DJ Stewart replaced Nimmo in left field and the leadoff spot Sunday.
“I’m pretty optimistic that we caught it early,” Mendoza said. “We were able to treat it last night, and he’s feeling good today.”
In other injury news, it’s unclear when No. 1 starter Kodai Senga will throw live batting practice again or begin a minor league rehab assignment during his recovery from a right shoulder capsule strain.
Senga faced hitters twice in the past two weeks, but he’s back to just throwing bullpens probably for the next week or so, Mendoza said.
“We don’t want to put him at risk,” Mendoza said. “He’s very meticulous about his craft.”
Elsewhere, right-hander Tylor Megill (shoulder strain) pitched 5 1/3 shutout innings for Triple-A Syracuse, allowing seven hits with six strikeouts and no walks. He is expected to be reinstated from his rehab assignment this week, and the Mets must decide whether to bring him back to the big leagues or option him to Syracuse.
Right-handed reliever Drew Smith (shoulder soreness) could come off the injured list Monday or Tuesday, and left-hander David Peterson (left hip surgery) is scheduled to make another rehab start Tuesday at Double-A Binghamton and could be ready to come off the IL when eligible on May 27.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
DARLINGTON, S.C. — Brad Keselowski moved to the front when leaders Chris Buescher and Tyler Reddick hit while battling for first with nine laps left and held on to capture the Goodyear 400 at Darlington Raceway on Sunday for his first NASCAR win in three years.
It was Keselowski’s 36th career victory, his second at Darlington and his first since reconnecting with magnate Jack Roush and becoming a co-owner at Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing.
“Hell of an effort by everyone,” Keselowski said after crossing the finish line.
It appeared Keselowski’s employee at RFK, Buescher, would get the win after he passed his boss and Reddick with 29 laps to go. But Buescher and Reddick then hit and fell back, opening the door for Keselowski’s satisfying victory.
“What a heck of a day,” he said. “That battle out there with my teammate and Tyler Reddick, we just laid it all on the line.”
Ty Gibbs was second, Josh Berry third and Denny Hamlin fourth. Chase Briscoe was fifth followed by William Byron, Bubba Wallace, Justin Haley and Michael McDowell.
It was another near miss for Buescher, who lost by 0.001 seconds to Kyle Larson at Kansas in the closest finish in NASCAR history.
Buescher slid to 30th and Reddick 32nd at Darlington.
Buescher confronted Reddick when both got out of their cars. Reddick took full blame for the incident.
Larson was in the top 10 when he spun out with 40 laps left and could not return.
Meanwhile, one slipup ended the chances of two NASCAR champions. Ryan Blaney, Martin Truex Jr. and Byron were three-wide on Lap 128 when Byron tagged Truex, who pushed into Blaney and sent him against the wall in Turn 2.
The crew for Blaney, the defending Cup Series champion, could not repair the damage, and his day was done. He rode up alongside Byron to signal his displeasure with Byron’s move.
“He used a little bit more racetrack than I thought, so I have every right to be mad, and he gets away scot-free,” said Blaney, who wound up last in 36th place.
Truex, the 2017 series champion, dropped from the top 10 and finished 25th.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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