The New York Yankees held an introductory press conference Tuesday for left fielder Juan Soto, nearly a week after acquiring the 25-year-old superstar in a trade with the San Diego Padres.
The conference, conducted via Zoom, was everyone’s first chance to see Soto in a Yankees cap.
Soto mostly discussed being happy to be in New York and being excited to meet his teammates. When the topic of an extension came up, Soto, who is a free agent after the 2024 season, was non-committal, saying, “They know where to call and who to talk to. I’m here just to play baseball.”
Soto, of course, is referring to his agent Scott Boras, who has represented many of baseball’s biggest stars over the past 30 years. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman is undoubtedly very familiar with Boras, as he also represents Yankees starting pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon and represented former Yankee Alex Rodriguez, negotiating Rodriguez’s trade from the Texas Rangers to the Yankees in 2004 and Rodriguez’s opt-out and subsequent 10-year extension with the Yankees in 2007.
Soto also made sure to point out that he’s not focused on the massive payday he’s due for, but instead just focusing on baseball as he’s done his whole career. “I’ve been doing it for six years,” Soto said. “I don’t think it’s going to be that hard. Scott Boras is my agent. I put everything on him and let him give his advice. My mindset is to come here to play baseball and try to win a championship.”
[ESPN]
