The New York Yankees are right in the middle of the Juan Soto sweepstakes, but there are a number of potential replacement options if that falls through. While Yankees fans don't want to entertain the notion of Soto leaving The Bronx after he put together an MVP-caliber campaign in pinstripes, it's no guarantee he will return. Having a contingency plan in place would be wise while the Yankees go all in for Soto, and one of the top options comes from within the division.
In listing the top landing spots in free agency for Baltimore Orioles switch-hitting slugger Anthony Santander, Zachary D. Rymer of Bleacher Report ranked New York as the sixth-best suitor on the list. "The Yankees have checked in on Santander , according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
He'd be a terrific fit at Yankee Stadium, as much of his power is channeled to right field as a lefty hitter," Rymer wrote. "Mind you, Heyman also notes that Santander is merely a backup plan if the Yankees can't retain Soto. This basically puts them in the same boat as the Mets, and the risk for both is that Santander will sign before Soto's market is settled.
" The Yankees won't be able to sign both Soto and Santander given their restraints against the luxury tax so they will have to hope that either Soto re-signs with the team or Santander waits until the Soto sweepstakes are over. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report projected Santander could receive a five-year, $101 million contrac t in free agency, which is certainly possible.