The upcoming MLB offseason will be one of the most impactful winters of this generation. There are plenty of Cy Young winners, MVPs and All-Stars set to enter free agency. There are other All-Stars who could be traded this winter.

We’re just a few days into the offseason and there’s already a ton of movement around the league. Players are in and out of contracts, while others patiently await free agency.

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For the past few months, teams around MLB have been toying with the idea of ​​signing Juan Soto to their teams once he reaches free agency. Now that Soto is in free agency, there are members of the media who are pushing the breaks a little more.

New York Yankees radio analyst Suzyn Waldman appeared on the show Maggie and Perloff On the show Friday where he expressed his hesitation in re-signing Soto for the rumored price tag of over $600 million.

“(Juan Soto) is a really big deal.” Waldman said. “He’s not a right fielder… Are you really going to stretch the budget for Juan Soto? And do we still have to put Aaron Judge in midfield?”

“Everyone is very focused on Juan Soto. There are eight other positions on the field right now that you can’t fill… If you don’t fill those positions correctly, you’re going to play again this year.”

Believe it or not, members New York Mets The media is on the same wavelength. Mets color analyst Ron Darling on SNY also talked about his hesitancy to pay Soto such a large figure.

“I don’t know why I want to say no. I just think, as we discovered in the postseason, one player doesn’t guarantee you winning the World Series,” Darling said (via Dan Bartels ). “(Soto) is as good a hitter as I’ve ever seen and (Aaron) Judge has had as great a season as he’s ever had, but one player hasn’t done that, I don’t know, maybe you can get two $300 million players.”

When the going gets tough, just about every team in the league would be willing to mortgage half a billion dollars to bring in Soto.

Last season, Los Angeles Angels They couldn’t move tons of pieces they were expected to trade at the trade deadline. One of those pieces was outfielder Taylor Ward, who had a very hot market surrounding him throughout the entire trade season. But Los Angeles wouldn’t move him. Now, heading into the offseason, they could capitalize on his trade value and move him elsewhere this winter.

Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors seems to think the Angels could explore a Ward trade this offseason.

“Whether they embrace a short-term reset or try to balance the MLB roster without dealing with one of the league’s worst farming systems, there’s a case for moving.” Franco wrote. “The 30-year-old left fielder has been the subject of trade speculation since last season. The Pirates and Royals reportedly signed him at the deadline. Nothing came together.”

Many teams in the league were interested in Ward. Pittsburgh Pirates And Kansas City Royal Family, As Franco mentioned. But teams like this Cincinnati Reds And Philadelphia Phillies It will also make sense. They also have major league offers in the deal that they could send to the Angels.

Heading into the offseason, the Yankees realized that Gerrit Cole would likely opt out of his contract. But he wasn’t going to give it up to enter free agency. Instead, his decision to opt out would force the Yankees to add another year to the end of his contract, effectively bringing him back instead of letting him enter free agency.

But maybe the Yankees are taking a different path here.

Jomboy from Jomboy Media recently came up with a very interesting idea For the Yankees to think about. The Yankees could have re-done the entire deal instead of bringing Cole back by adding another $36 million year to the end of the contract. Under this assumption, they would give him five years for $40 million a year, but $30 million is deferred money.

Cole gets a raise and the Yankees save cap space to re-sign Soto and add other talent to their 2025 roster. This is an excellent plan that will benefit both parties.

The Yankees must decide by Sunday night whether to extend Gerrit Cole’s contract to one year, $36 million or allow him to become a free agent.