The New York Yankees suffered a major setback this offseason when superstar Juan Soto, one of their top targets, signed a record-breaking deal with their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. This was a tough blow for Yankees fans, especially since many had hoped Soto would join the team and wear the iconic pinstripes. However, as the news came in, it became clear that Soto simply didn’t place as much importance on playing for the Yankees as many had hoped.
Soto’s new deal with the Mets is massive: a 15-year contract worth $765 million, with the possibility of reaching $800 million thanks to performance-based escalators. The contract is without deferred money, and it also includes an opt-out clause after five seasons, giving Soto some flexibility down the line.
While the Yankees did put up a strong offer—16 years for $760 million, according to reports from Jon Heyman of The New York Post—it wasn’t enough to lure Soto away from the Mets. Now that he’s heading to Queens, the Yankees are left with some big decisions to make. Replacing Soto’s bat in the lineup will be a priority, but it’s clear that their biggest focus should now shift to bolstering the pitching staff.
The Yankees will likely go hard after some top-tier pitchers, with the first on their list being Corbin Burnes. Burnes, 28, is coming off a fantastic season with a 2.92 ERA across 194.1 innings, and he has been a durable presence on the mound, making at least 28 starts every year for the past four seasons and earning four All-Star nods. However, signing Burnes will likely require a hefty investment—around $200 million, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. If the Yankees manage to secure Burnes, pairing him with ace Gerrit Cole could give them one of the best pitching duos in the league.
If they miss out on Burnes, the Yankees could shift their focus to Max Fried, another top-tier pitcher who could cost around $200 million as well. However, Fried’s injury history is a concern, as he’s only reached 30 starts twice in his career.
To make a serious run in 2025, the Yankees will likely need to land one of these two pitchers, along with adding some power hitters to their lineup. Potential targets could include slugger Pete Alonso, outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, third baseman Alex Bregman, and outfielder Anthony Santander.
In the wake of losing Soto to the Mets, the Yankees’ top priority should be securing a big-name pitcher like Burnes or Fried. They’ll need to act quickly to avoid missing out on these key players and potentially fall behind other teams looking to make a splash this offseason.