{"id":67876,"date":"2024-03-08T12:00:56","date_gmt":"2024-03-08T17:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/?p=67876"},"modified":"2024-03-08T00:43:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-08T05:43:56","slug":"juan-soto-contract-talks-yankees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/baseball\/2024\/03\/08\/juan-soto-contract-talks-yankees\/","title":{"rendered":"The Yankees Need to Extend Juan Soto Long-Term\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

How many games does someone need to play on a new team before you can judge if they’re worth a big-money extension? <\/span>Some would argue seasons, maybe an other-worldly 162-game stretch that ends with a World Series title. <\/span>But how about 5 games? <\/span>That\u2019s the amount Juan Soto<\/a> has taken part in since joining the Yankees, and he\u2019s looked like the superstar he\u2019s been advertised to be. <\/span>In just twelve at-bats<\/a>, he\u2019s hitting .583 and has three home runs, five extra-base hits, and seven RBIs. Those numbers are hard to come by in rookie mode in a video game (trust me, I\u2019ve tried). <\/span>But it\u2019s not only that. He\u2019s bought into the Yankee culture, talked glowingly about being able to wear the Pinstripes, and developed a strong friendship<\/a> with the beloved Captain, Aaron Judge<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Yankees Need to Extend Juan Soto’s Long-Term<\/h2>\n

The (Possible) $500 Million Man<\/h3>\n

Only March and Soto have cemented himself as an integral part of the team. But does his track record justify him getting a possible $500 million contract<\/a>? Believe it or not, the answer is a resounding yes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Stats<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s hard to believe that Juan Soto has been in the league for six years already, but it\u2019s even more unbelievable that he\u2019s still only 25. For many pro players, they\u2019re still in arbitration at that point in their career, not on the brink of free agency. <\/span>But he\u2019s never been just a regular player. Since getting promoted at 19, he\u2019s been a phenom. Usually, in the MVP conversation, he\u2019s also secured three All-Stars and Silver Sluggers in his short tenure. <\/span>Analysts have revered him for his bat-on-ball skills, but his eye makes him one of the most dangerous hitters in the game. He has never had a sub .400 OBP in his career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes, he gets on base two out of every five times. If this were Moneyball, Brad Pitt would point to Jonah Hill and say, \u201cHe gets on base.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n