Considering they became the first team ever to lose a $765 million player, the Yankees are doing all right for themselves.
But before we commence with well-earned plaudits from their superb winter rally, let’s briefly consider how they lost the great Juan Soto to their heretofore little brothers 8 ½ miles to the southeast. Undoubtedly, it was an intracity upset for the ages.
Not only did the Yankees never expect to bid $760 million, they never expected to lose him, certainly not to the Mets. Initially and understandably, they surmised it was the money that sold Soto, and said so. But after a couple weeks’ worth of new info and updated introspection, I think they get it now.
Soto didn’t bolt for the extra $5 million, which amounts to .6 percent more (so little the Yankees almost surely would have matched it given the chance) — though of course Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend, and keep spending, didn’t hurt. Soto left mainly for family.
