Insider: Juan Soto Is “Absolutely Not” A Lock To Remain A Yankee

As Juan Soto and the New York Yankees head into an MLB dream matchup World Series against Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers, many observers figure that a championship for New York would solidify the Soto/Bronx Bombers link and ensure that he signs there long-term in free agency this winter.

Not so fast.

According to ESPN baseball insider Buster Olney, appearing on TSN 1050 First Up on Friday morning, he actually said that a Yankees World Series victory would lessen the chances that Soto will remain in Pinstripes. It all started when he was asked if a World Series win means the superstar outfielder will become a Yankee permanently:

Absolutely not!
I felt going into the postseason that, in the end, it was going to come down to a decision by Juan Soto: does he want to take a lesser offer from the Yankees or does he want to take more money from the (NY) Mets? And I would say this: if the Yankees win the World Series... I think it increases the likelihood that Soto leaves.

Wait, what? Here's his reasoning: With a championship—the ultimate be-all and end-all of the Yankees and their fans—they will have accomplished their goal. And the one-year acquisition of Soto will have 'paid off.'

"I think it absolutely gives their organization and owner Hal Steinbrenner some cover," says Olney. "They will have won a World Series... Having that parade allows Hal to say... 'Mission Accomplished, and we're just not willing to pay'" whatever ridiculous price Mets owner Steve Cohen puts in front of Soto.

And what Olney didn't say, is that if it just comes down to New York vs New York, some of this might very well be influenced by Soto's agent, the notorious Scott Boras, who, as we shared from another insider earlier this week, just wants to be able to say, 'I hold the record for the guy who got the most money.'

Just another interesting bit of intrigue to follow in this World Series.