New York Yankees suffer double blow as Juan Soto alternative chooses to join rival

The New York Yankees have suffered a double blow after losing Juan Soto to their Mets rivals while missing out on his potential replacement, Michael Conforto, to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto , 26, announced following the Yankees' World Series loss to the Dodgers that he'd be open to all 32 MLB teams as he headed for free agency.

In the end, Soto, one of MLB's most sought-after talents, has now apparently agreed a mega 15-year, $765 million deal with the Yankees' fierce rivals, the Mets.

The contract reportedly includes a $75m signing bonus, and the deal could reach $800m.

According to the New York Post , the Yankees were said to be runners-up in the race to keep Soto at their ballclub, tabling an offer of 16 years and $760 million.

To replace Soto, one of the players available on the market for a short-term deal was former Mets and San Francisco Giants star Conforto.

He spent the past two seasons with the Giants, having signed after missing the 2022 campaign due to a shoulder injury.

Juan Soto agrees to join New York Mets as Los Angeles Dodgers settle for alternative Shohei Ohtani contract masterclass paves way for Dodgers World Series defense However, that ship has sailed, too, leaving the Yankees running out of options.

ESPN is reporting that Conforto is signing a short-term, one-year, $17m deal with the reigning World Series champions, the Dodgers, keeping him in California.

The report states the Dodgers moved for the 31-year-old to bolster its outfield after missing out on Soto.

Securing Soto would've seen the Dodgers take on the two biggest MLB contracts in history in consecutive years after snatching two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani before last season.

As for the Yankees, there are still options available to replace Soto.

Jasson Dominguez, a Yankees prospect, is the easiest option.

The franchise rates Dominguez highly, having made him untouchable in trades.

The Yankees also have Everson Pereira and Spencer Jones who should be ready to debut in the 2025 season.

Outside of the ballclub, the Chicago White Sox are actively open to shipping off their star outfielder, Luis Robert Jr., the 27-year-old who struggled with his performance and health in the last campaign.

However, this could prove to be an expensive trade for the Yankees.

Free agent Jurickson Profar could be a top option to replace Soto.

The former San Diego Padres would be a solid option for the Yankees on a short-term basis.

Profar managed .280/.380/.459 with a 134 OPS+ on his way to All-Star honors.

Another free agent, Anthony Santander, could also be the answer.

The ex-Baltimore Orioles slugger managed a career-high 44 home runs in 2024..

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