Yankees' Cashman: 'Odds are' Soto tests free agency

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman understands that his team's new superstar outfielder Juan Soto will very likely enter the open market following the 2024 season.

"We recognized when we went into this situation that the odds are that it's a one-year situation before free agency," Cashman said Thursday, according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. "Certainly, that can change, I guess, but the odds are certainly against that. He's this close to free agency. I don't see too many things stopping him from hitting free agency.

"So, we're just looking to see if we collectively can crush it together, have an amazing walk year, and (have) him put up the numbers he's capable of putting up with the cast of characters that we're going to surround him with. See if we all can have a good time and then have a conversation thereafter."

The Yankees acquired Soto and Trent Grisham from the San Diego Padres for Michael King, Jhony Brito, Randy Vásquez, Drew Thorpe, and Kyle Higashioka in December.

Soto will make $31 million this season in his last year of arbitration eligibility.

The 2021 NL MVP runner-up is represented by Scott Boras, who's known to maximize the value out of his high-end clients through free agency.

The 25-year-old Soto could land a $500-million contract. The three-time All-Star already rejected a 15-year, $440-million offer in July 2022 while with the Washington Nationals, which prompted a move to the Padres.