What Yankees’ Juan Soto had to say about possible extension, Aaron Judge, playing at Yankee Stadium
NEW YORK — Juan Soto leaned back in his chair, a huge grin stretching across his face as he clutched the brim of his new Yankees cap with both hands.
“Putting on this Yankee hat, it definitely fits different,” Soto said.
Soto was conducting his introductory press conference on a Zoom call with reporters Tuesday evening, his first public comments since being traded from the Padres to the Yankees in a Winter Meetings blockbuster.
The superstar outfielder gushed about his new opportunity to suit up in pinstripes. Soto made it clear that he’s elated about his chance to play in front of Yankees fans — especially the Dominican community in the Bronx — and compete for a championship.
Soto brings generational abilities to the table. The outfielder is one of the best hitters on the planet, a phenom that enters this season on a Hall of Fame trajectory. Now he’ll share the outfield and the heart of the order with Aaron Judge, creating what could go down as one of the best position player duos in franchise history.
With each question coming in from different angles, Soto’s replies stayed the same.
If Shohei Ohtani was able to secure a $700 million deal over 10 years with the Dodgers, Soto is well-positioned to sign a record-setting contract of his own, likely upwards of $500 million.
“There’s no reason to change [my approach],” Soto said. “I think I’m going to be trying to do the same thing and if I get the chance to pull the ball and hit it that way, that’s fine with me. But my strength is definitely going to left-center and I think that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
