[Madden] It comes down to this: Hal Steinbrenner has no regrets about losing out on a player who went just for the money. He was very uncomfortable at $76OM and I suspect there’s a sigh of relief among the Yankee hierarchy.

48 comments

  6. We have holes at first, third, left field, right field, starting pitching, and relief pitching. Spend that 760M and get us a TEAM, not a .280 30hr hitter with below average fielding until the end of time.

  8. let’s boo that fucker for the rest of his career whenever he touches yankee stadium grass

  9. I can see Hal essentially knowing Cohen would always outbid him and saying, “either you want to be a Yankee with the biggest contract ever, or you want slightly more money”. He wanted the money more. Would’ve preferred he be a Yankee for the next 16 years, but if he only wanted a little more from a lesser franchise, that’s on him, not Hal.

  10. Can we have a Hal appreciation post like deadass he was a bonehead in the past but he’s been putting the money on the table

  11. This feels odd to say but I’m actually pretty damn proud of Hal for laying out such a massive offer.

  14. I’m impressed that Hal was neck and neck with a guy that makes 4x as much as he does anyways. Cohen can use 100% of what he makes off of his baseball team and still be richer than Hal.

    Thanks for the effort. Soto just wanted the highest offer. He didn’t care to build off of what this team did this last season, even with a record setting contract in his face from the Yankees.

  15. The issue the Yankees are going to have is finding someone who can not only replace that production but also stop teams from pitching around Judge. Cashman either is going to have to punt 2025 and not give out an albatross just to give it out and spend on a better FA class or he’s going to have sign Fried or Burnes and then gt really fucking creative with FA and trades. This is why signing Soto just made the offseason so easy.

  20. lol have fun hitting @ citi field. Back to a sub 30 Homerun and sub 100 RBI hitter you go.

    Playing at yankee stadium with the short porch was the best thing for his #s.

    Put up record #s as a yankee. He won’t come close as a met. Book it.

  23. I’m jumping on the train that Juan Soto isn’t actually 26 and has been lying about his age (Yes I’m coping)

  24. Honestly not mad at all. I’m firmly in the “it’s not my money” camp, but it was clear Cohen was going to top any offer. Hal went well beyond his comfort zone and tried to get it done. Uncle Steve just wouldn’t be outbid. If Soto wanted to be a Yankee, he would be. But he didn’t, so now we have to move on. The Yankees FO deserves criticism for plenty of action/non-action, but this is not one of them.

    ETA: also not mad at Soto. Dude wanted the bag and got it. $75M signing bonus on top? Damn. Good for him. (probably still going to boo him though)

  25. Fuck him. Liability on defense. He knew he was gonna be a Met the whole time. Fockkkk heeeeeeem.

  27. You know my initial reaction was anger that for such a small amount of money relative to his contract plus the endorsements Soto would have made as a Yankee, not to mention the potential dynasty and legacy, he chose to the Mets. Maybe it was greed or not sharing the spotlight with Judge, who knows. But at the end of the day, the Yankees can now go build a team no revolving around an over payed player. Sure they will spend money on other high priced players but they won’t be in a situation where they are stuck in a massive contract for years that may or may not pan out. I hope this feels the fire of everyone in the Yankee organization to go out and win the World Series this upcoming year.

  29. Good for Hal going as far as he did. Soto only wanted the money. Sad but whatever we will move on. And be better than the Mets. And still face the dodgers in the WS every year

  30. Let the Mets spend all they want – they didn’t get to the WS last year and they had the highest payroll. I hope they miss the playoffs in 2025.

    Disappointed in Soto for being super greedy when he could have been so much better with Judge.

    They HAD to pitch to Soto with Judge right behind him – that’s why he had his best year of his career last year.

  31. Who would’ve thought the guy who turned down 440 million dollars at 24 after winning a ring just wanted money. Damn, at least we can’t say we didn’t try

  32. I hope we intentionally walk him EVERY AT BAT he has at Yankee stadium. Never give that fucker the satisfaction of hitting dingers against us

  33. I won’t lie and say I’m fine with Soto leaving, but Hal’s not wrong. $760/16 is INSANE for one player who can’t run and barely plays right field. And that’s not even counting the fact that the Mets’ starting rotation is so bad they’re going to try and make Clay Holmes a starter.

    Like I said in another post, this is gonna go the same way as A-Rod. Chasing the money, getting the bag, and then realizing 4 seasons deep that you’re playing for a team that is barely competitive in their division.

  34. This contract could easily backfire spectacularly. Soto is a garbage outfielder, a terrible base runner, has a weak throwing arm. If (when) his body breaks down or he simply loses his swing, this contract will be a franchise albatross forever.

  35. If Cashman would have just signed Harper, none of this would have happened. But no, they had Aaron Hicks and Clint Frazier, no room for a scrub like Harper, right?

  36. It’s not my money and he can do whatever he wants obviously but i genuinely cannot imagine picking a worse situation over $5mm when the amount of money you are getting in both situations will mean money as a concept is irrelevant for the rest of you and your ancestors lives lol.

    Like if he had any interest in being a Yankee he would be because the extra money is going to have absolutely zero impact on his life (assuming there are no crazy deferred amounts the Yankees were requesting).

  37. All things considered, I’m glad he’s not going to play for the Dodgers or the Red Sox (or the astros, but they weren’t in it). The Dodgers with Soto would have been scary. The Mets with Soto? Meh. They still aren’t the best team in the NL East, let alone the NL.

  38. It’s weird but for that money I’m happy we didn’t get him. Frankly, I just want Hal to ok all of that money to actually signing the pieces we need. Let’s see if that money goes into starting pitching, infielders, and more that will make a larger impact from top to bottom than spending 760 million on 1 piece would have.

  39. Does anyone actually believe Soto is the athlete that commands the largest deal in sports history? He’s not even the best player in the league lol.

    There’s no question he is an elite athlete and one of the best currently playing. But he is not the GOAT.

  40. His offer to Soto means nothing if they don’t use it to now pivot to a very strong Plan B situation. This team needs improvements. Soto wasn’t an unnecessary luxury like he would’ve been for the Dodgers. Let’s see what they do with their money now.

  41. lol payed all that money for a guy who won’t get them past the Dodgers. Good luck Mets fans!

  42. I feel sorry for all of you who are saddened by this, truly. However I thought all along that going this high for Soto would’ve been bad for the team both in the short term and especially the long term. He’s an amazing hitter, fun entertainer, and most importantly big game performer. But that is a massive contract, and he can’t field or run the bases. Congrats to the Mets but let’s see how this all plays out. Yanks can sign/trade for some really great players this winter but they need to act quick. Go yanks.

  43. Sour grapes here: Soto is a below average fielder and a below average base runner. 800 million for a 3 tool player!? No thanks.

  44. Yanks have an opportunity to do the funniest thing ever go out and get Alonso. Pleaseeeee

  45. I’m glad. Hal would have paid that, and then cheaped out later, crippling the team for forever. You can’t pay anywhere near that and give a shit about the luxury tax — which Hal very much does.

  47. COPIUM

    We had one year to win and they played like fuckin drunks. Fuck outta here I’m goin to bed.

  48. He doesn’t care about his legacy, just a few more millions to his already largest contract in the history of the sport. It’s too bad but when it comes down to it, don’t need guys like this on the team, could have tried to take something team friendly like the rest of the dodger org to try to win but hope he and the Mets lose and have a tough time against the padres and dodgers. A part of me thinks he just used all the success the Yankees had to cash out, he was great but it wasn’t all him. Hal did great, he was never going to outbid an INSIDE TRADER and CROOK.

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