Juan Soto declined the one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer that the New York Yankees tendered to him, according to Jon Heyman. The team will now receive a draft pick if they are unable to sign the star outfielder to a new contract. Tuesday was the deadline for Soto to decide whether to accept the offer.
The 26-year-old has had meetings with several teams, and more are to come. There are no publicly known offers, but the outfielder is expected to command one of the largest contracts in MLB history.
The Bronx Bombers acquired Soto in a seven-player trade with the San Diego Padres last winter. He hit a career-high 41 home runs and had 7.9 wins above replacement in his lone year with the Yankees. The outfielder slashed .288/.419/.569 while also driving in 109 runs and leading the AL with 128 runs scored.
Soto started in left field for the American League in the All-Star Game. He won a Silver Slugger award and is a finalist for the AL MVP. The outfielder was also a finalist for a Gold Glove.
Soto was also one of the Yankees’ best players in October. He hit four home runs and drove in nine runs while having a 1.101 OPS. The slugger’s biggest hit of the playoffs came in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians. He hit a three-run homer in the top of the 10th to give the Bronx Bombers the lead and clinch the series.
Soto provided the Yankees with star power, and the team is one of the favorites to sign him in free agency.
Casey Fahrer is a 2024 graduate of Syracuse University and a contributor to Inside The Pinstripes. He can be reached at caseyfahrer716@gmail.com.
