Yankees’ Hal Steinbrenner makes first comments after Juan Soto meeting

NEW YORK — For Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, the Juan Soto sweepstakes comes with some unknowns.
Steinbrenner thought the Yankees’ meeting with Soto and agent Scott Boras earlier this week went well, but as of now, he has “no idea” how confident he should be about the superstar’s big decision on the open market this winter.
Call it a realistic takeaway from a sit-down that left others within the organization feeling “encouraged.” Steinbrenner knows other high-spending contenders — like Steve Cohen’s Mets — will be making a run at Soto this winter as well.
It’s presently unclear when Steinbrenner and the Yankees will meet with Soto and his team again. The timing of Soto’s free agency decision isn’t set in stone either. The same goes for how much money the Yankees will ultimately be willing to offer. Steinbrenner hasn’t thought about a “walking-away number” just yet. It’s early in that process.
What Steinbrenner does know, however, is that re-signing Soto this offseason is a top priority.
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He wouldn’t have flown out to California a few days ago for a meeting with Soto and Boras — joined by general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone and more — if that wasn’t the case.
“We listen to our fans,” Steinbrenner said Wednesday, speaking in Midtown at the Owners Meetings. “Our fans really enjoyed having him in New York. He’s definitely a significant part of why we got to the World Series. I’ve got ears. I know what’s expected of me.”
As he was peppered about Soto, Steinbrenner brushed off certain questions about possible contract details and the intricacies of his recent sit-down with the superstar, playing it coy.
“All I can tell you,” Steinbrenner explained, “is I do believe he enjoyed his time here. He’s close with Aaron Judge, he’s close with Aaron Boone. So we’ll see, but in the end, he needs to do what’s best for him and his family.”
Soto has already met with a handful of other teams, including the Mets, Red Sox and Blue Jays. The World Series champion Dodgers and Phillies are also expected to get their chance to sit down with Soto in the coming days.
Steinbrenner shared that he while he didn’t get to know Soto that well personally during this past season — he didn’t want to bother Soto at the ballpark, knowing the outfielder is “in a zone” when he’s at the office — the owner hopes to be able to treat the 26-year-old the same way he does with other team leaders for years to come.
“Should he be back next year,” Steinbrenner said, “I made it clear that the kind of relationship I would like is the kind of relationship I have with Gerrit [Cole] and Aaron Judge.”
The Yankees are in a position to spend this winter. They have a substantial amount of money coming off the books. That said, they’ll need to invest what is expected to be a record-setting amount to keep Soto in pinstripes. It could take upwards of $700 million.
Steinbrenner is ready and willing to consider every avenue this winter to make the Yankees better. Coming off a loss to Los Angeles in the World Series, Steinbrenner said he recently told Cashman to send any and all suggestions on how to improve this club’s roster — Soto and otherwise — his way.
While he doesn’t believe that payrolls at and above $300 million per year are sustainable — they’re “not feasible” was the way he put it on Wednesday — Steinbrenner acknowledged that it won’t preclude him from spending big if he wants to.
“We’ve got the ability to sign any player we want to sign,” Steinbrenner said.
Would it hurt to lose him even more if he bolted to Queens and signed with the Mets, who might be the highest bidder?
“We’re going to be in the mix for Soto,” he said. “If it doesn’t work out, it’s going to hurt a little bit no matter where he goes.”
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Max Goodman may be reached at [email protected].