There is no indication — yet — that Juan Soto’s free agency will stretch deep into the offseason, as some major free agencies have done in the past.
Still, until the superstar lands a new deal, in New York or elsewhere, at least some of the other available free agents could end up stuck in a holding pattern.
For instance, if the Yankees miss out on Soto, they could turn to Christian Walker to take over for Anthony Rizzo at first base.
But with Walker expected to fetch a multiyear deal worth at least $20 million per season (The Post’s Jon Heyman pegged an estimate at three years, $60 million), the 33-year-old will almost certainly have more teams interested once Soto has a spot.
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Christian Walker (53) tosses the ball to first base for the final out in their 11-2 win against the San Diego Padres at Chase Field.Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Walker would fit a Yankees infield that is set to lose Gleyber Torres at second base, as well as Rizzo at first, with both hitting free agency after the Yankees exercised a $6 million buyout of the final year of Rizzo’s contract.
Walker could also be a Mets target if another local free agent, Pete Alonso, doesn’t end up back in Queens.
The Yankees may also find themselves in the market for Alex Bregman to take over at third base, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. moving to second in that scenario, but again, that’s not all possible if they strike a deal with Soto.
Alonso and Bregman, like Soto, are represented by Scott Boras and should get more expensive contracts than Walker.
No one, though, is bigger than Soto this offseason.
“Listen, we’ll talk to whoever we think is a good fit,’’ another agent of a current free agent said Friday. “And if something works, then that’s fine. We know what our market is. But you do also know there’s a chance another team could come out of the woodwork depending on what happens with some other guys. It all starts with [Soto].”
New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto #22 reacts after he grounds out during the third inning.Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post
Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman throws to second after fielding a bunt by Detroit Tigers’ Parker Meadows in the ninth inning of Game 2 of an AL Wild Card Series baseball game Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2024, in Houston.AP
Last offseason, it was Shohei Ohtani who kept the baseball world waiting. He agreed to his historic deal with the Dodgers in the second week of December.
With Soto meeting with teams this week — the first reported meeting was held Thursday in Southern California with the Red Sox, according to Masslive.com — and the Mets and Yankees firmly in the running, the 26-year-old seems to be on a similar timeline as Ohtani was a year ago and Aaron Judge the previous offseason, when his free agency dominated the sport.
Complicating matters is the fact that teams such as the Blue Jays, also ready to go after Soto, did not simply take the money they would have spent if they had signed Ohtani last season and hand it out elsewhere.
The same figures to be true again this offseason, with some teams pocketing much of the money ticketed for Soto if they miss out instead of allocating it elsewhere.
So far this offseason, the largest deal handed out has been to Michael Wacha, a three-year, $51 million contract to remain in Kansas City.
The Yankees signed right-handed reliever Jordany Ventura to a minor league deal this week, according to the team’s transactions page.
The 24-year-old pitched in the Mets system since signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2018 and reached Double-A this past season.
He’s dealt with injuries throughout his career, but Ventura also features swing-and-miss stuff that the Yankees have had success with when picking up little-known relievers in the past.
