As the Yankees, and the rest of Major League Baseball, gear up to make their pitches to Juan Soto, Sal Licata says the Yanks may be better off allowing another team to pay a record contract to the free agent superstar, and use that money to “overhaul” the roster.
Starting with trading Giancarlo Stanton in an effort to get more money off the books.
“I would be looking to make different moves, like trading Giancarlo Stanton...and figuring of other ways to rebuild this entire team,” Sal said. “I don’t know if you can do that with Juan Soto being in play.
“If I’m the Yankees, I look at what it would cost to bring back Juan Soto, but I think they have more important things to take care of than bringing back Juan Soto.”
Sal doesn’t see ownership doing much more to improve the team if they commit $600 million to retain Soto, so if Soto returns and largely the same roster remains, does that give them a better chance of winning a title?
“If it’s just Soto and then minimal moves, then I think you have to let Juan Soto go,” Sal said. “If Hal Steinbrenner is gonna say ‘eff it’...then bring him back. You want good players. The issue we have from a Yankee perspective is that we know, if they do bring him back, it’s gonna prevent them from changing the look of this team. How do you do it?”
But, first things first, Sal says the priority should be moving Stanton, regardless of his playoff contributions. Of course, Stanton would have to greenlight any trade since he has a no-trade clause, but Sal says the Yankees should give it a try.
“I’m trading Giancarlo Stanton. That’s it,” Sal said. “I didn’t like the trade in 2018, and I don’t like it now...I know what he can do in the postseason...coming off of that postseason, you might be able to get something for him...now is the time...it would free up the DH spot that you could use for Judge, Soto, or anyone else.”