C-Mac breaks down how Yankees can sign Juan Soto and still trim down payroll

Hal Steinbrenner frustrated some Yankee fans last month when he declared that the team’s current payroll level is not sustainable, an eye-opening comment as superstar Juan Soto gets set to hit free agency this offseason.

But C-Mac still doesn’t believe Steinbrenner’s comments mean that Soto won’t be in pinstripes for life.

“I think he understands what it’s gonna take,” C-Mac said. “And I think he’s willing to do it.”

So, how can Steinbrenner sign Soto and still trim down the payroll? C-Mac laid out the whole plan below:

“I don’t being back Gleyber [Torres], I don’t bring back [Anthony] Rizzo, and I don’t replace those positions with big-time money,” C-Mac said. “[Alex] Verdugo is gone, and my outfield is [Aaron] Judge, Soto, and Jasson Dominguez. Hopefully play [Oswald] Peraza…who was off to a decent start coming back from injury in Triple-A. maybe I play him at second base.

“Maybe a Ben Rice or a prospect like that, or a cheaper version at first base…I probably even lose Clay Holmes in free agency and trust Matt Blake and what they’ve done here to find a closer…I play Wells at catcher for the most part. If you want to bring Trevino back or another solid, defensive catcher, fine.”

With that plan, the money of Torres, Rizzo, and Verdugo will be off the books, making it easier to add another superstar like Soto to the payroll.

“I have a young, cheap catcher. I have a young, cheap shortstop in Volpe. I have a young, cheap second baseman. A young, cheap center fielder in Dominguez,” C-Mac said. “Then I have my stars in Judge, Cole, Soto, Stanton, Rodon, and that’s where I have my money.”