Yankees look like AL favorites after nailing post-Juan Soto Plan B

Considering they became the first team to lose a player for $765 million, the Yankees are doing well.

But before we begin with the well-deserved plaudits for their superb winter rally, let’s briefly consider how they lost the great Juan Soto to their heretofore smaller brothers 8 ½ miles to the southeast. Without a doubt, it was an intra-city shake-up for the ages.

Not only did the Yankees not expect to offer $760 million, but they also did not expect to lose it, certainly not to the Mets. Initially, understandably, they assumed it was money that sold Soto, and they said so. But after a few weeks of new information and updated introspection, I think they get it now.

Soto didn’t get the extra $5 million, which amounts to 0.6% more (so little that the Yankees almost surely would have matched if given the chance) — although, of course, Steve Cohen’s desire to spend and continue spending did not happen. hurt. Soto left mainly for family.