Hal Steinbrenner’s comments have not affected Juan Soto’s contract negotiations

New York Yankees fans hoping for a quick resolution to Juan Soto’s contract saga will be disappointed. The fact that Scott Boras is representing the prolific slugger means he won’t sign a new deal with New York before testing free agency.

An MLB executive told ESPN that Hal Steinbrenner’s recent optimistic comments about keeping Soto in the pinstripes will only increase fans’ “expectations.”

Boras is too talented a negotiator to resist the temptation to start a bidding war for his high-profile client. Even if the Yankees make a huge offer to retain Soto during the regular season, it is in the best interests of Boras and his client to give other teams a chance to get involved in the offseason.

That doesn’t mean the Yankees will be outbid. Steinbrenner has ushered in a new era of financial restraint in the Bronx, but he understands how fans could turn on him if Soto is allowed to leave for nothing. If the organization loses to Soto in a bidding war this offseason, look for them to spend big elsewhere on the free-agent market to appease fans.

The choice could easily come down to how much Soto likes playing in New York. Batting right in front of Aaron Judge gives him tremendous protection at the plate. The narrow dimensions of right field at Yankee Stadium give him an easy defensive assignment. The assurance that the Yankees will always spend enough money to be competitive should also work in their favor come the offseason.

It’s still easy to imagine a scenario where another team comes in with a contract offer big enough to change Soto’s mind. Boras isn’t the kind of agent who typically lets his clients accept anything less than the biggest financial offer. The player may have to fight his agent if he wants to stay with New York this summer despite bigger offers elsewhere.

There is still plenty of time left in Soto’s tenure with the Yankees, but fans should expect a nervous wait this winter when it comes to the player’s long-term future. Boras will make sure his client gets every advantage by bringing him to free agency.