Re-signing Juan Soto is undoubtedly the New York Yankees’ top goal this offseason. However, if negotiations don’t go as planned, the Yankees will need an alternative strategy.

In 2024, Soto delivered a stellar season for New York, batting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. His OPS of .989 was third-highest in the majors, trailing only Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, who are the frontrunners for the NL and AL MVP awards, respectively.

Soto’s elite performance comes with a high price tag, reportedly increasing since the Yankees’ World Series exit.

If the Yankees are unable to re-sign Soto, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi suggested on Friday that they would likely look to invest in several star-level free agents instead. Morosi proposed that the Yankees might pursue a combination of players like Anthony Santander, Christian Walker, or even Willy Adames as alternatives.

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Morosi noted that Santander’s market “aligns” with Soto’s, as both are powerful right-fielders capable of anchoring the Yankees’ lineup. Santander, who earned his first All-Star selection last season, led the Baltimore Orioles in both home runs (44) and RBIs (102). Teams that miss out on Soto, potentially including the Yankees, may see Santander as a strong alternative.

However, Santander doesn’t match Soto’s consistency at the plate. While the 29-year-old hit a career-best .235 last season, this falls well below Soto’s .285 career average. Santander alone would not be a full replacement for Soto, but adding him along with players like Adames and Walker could help soften the loss if Soto departs.

With the New York Mets and several unexpected contenders also in pursuit, the Yankees face stiff competition in retaining Soto.

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