Yankees manager: Juan Soto signing Mets contract in MLB free agency would be a 'buzzkill' | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto is an impending free agent, and the New York Mets are being heavily linked to him as a possible landing spot.

Undeniably, this would be a huge blow to the Yankees, and one front office executive had this to say to the Yankees' Jon Heyman New York Post.

“Going from the Yankees to the Mets … that’s a buzzkill,” the manager said.

Soto, who just turned 26, is a four-time All-Star. He led the American League with 128 runs and added 41 home runs, 109 RBI and an OPS of .989.

Soto was also exceptional in the playoffs, most notably when he hit a three-run home run in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, leading the Yanks to a 5-2 victory in 10 innings over the Cleveland Guardians. In doing so, New York secured its first AL pennant in 15 years.

He landed in New York last offseason in a blockbuster deal with the San Diego Padres. Given his great regular season and playoffs, it is very likely that he will receive the second-richest contract in MLB history, behind only Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal.

Heyman reported in early October that the new “whisper number” for Soto is $600 million. At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise if Soto reached that mark, and the Mets could well be willing to offer that amount.

Mets owner Steve Cohen hasn't been afraid to spend big during his short tenure. The team has been at the top of the MLB payroll in each of the last two seasons.

In the end, Heyman wonders if the Yanks could compete with the Mets in a bidding war.

“Still, the Yankees want to keep him. Hell, every team should want him and many will bid on him. But I think Hal Steinbrenner is serious about trying to get the Yankees off a $300 million-plus payroll, and so he'll probably say “Uncle” in a mano-a-mano bidding war with Uncle Stevie. But will Cohen give it his all?

We'll find out soon enough how serious the Mets are about plucking Soto from the Yanks. Of course he should also have other applicants. According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the San Francisco Giants have been mentioned as a suitor. And several MLB.com reporters posited the Washington Nationals, Soto's old team.

Soto once turned down a 15-year, $440 million contract to stay with the Nationals before later being traded to San Diego. This proved to be a smart move financially as he will earn a lot more this offseason.

The question is by whom, but for now Soto and the Yankees are focused on winning the franchise's first World Series since 2009, starting Friday with Game 1 at the Los Angeles Dodgers.