Looking at the Yanks headed into pivotal free agent year

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Gallons of newsprint have already spilled about Juan Soto's pending free agency, with even more discussion on the Internet. That’s incredible, considering that no one (perhaps even Soto himself) can state with certainty what the future will hold.

Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner gave the green light to the December trade with the Padres, recognizing that there is a chance that Soto could be playing in another uniform next season, though that isn’t something they are planning on.

As Steinbrenner said recently: “I don’t know how you could say no to get a player like that, even if it is for one year. Hopefully, it’s not. But that’s not something I was going to say no to.”

But Soto is hardly the only pending free agent in pinstripes, which makes for an intriguing roster exercise if you attempt to peer past today into the future.

The Yankees’ other potential free agents include Gleyber Torres and Alex Verdugo on the position player side, plus Clay Holmes, Caleb Ferguson, Tommy Kahnle and Jonathan Loáisiga in the bullpen.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes that the promise of a lucrative payday, whether in the Bronx or elsewhere, could spur impact seasons from many of those players.

“Any time a guy is in a free agent or walk year, that’s one of those additional carrots that exist,” Boone said. “It can be a motivator. I think sometimes it can be a pressure, too. It’s how you handle it. Hopefully it is another one of those things that drives you in the right way to be uber-prepared for what’s ahead.”

Torres has made no secret of his desire to reach a new contract with the Yankees, though the club has not made any overtures yet. As Aaron Judge did in 2022, Torres said he would prefer not to discuss his contract after Opening Day.

“I don’t have too much time to think about those things,” Torres said. “During the day, I’ve got all day on the field, and when I go home I’m just with my baby. So basically I’m busy every day.

“But I can’t lie. I just think sometimes, maybe it’s going to be my last year here because I don’t know what the business plan is here next year. It motivates me. … I want to be a Yankee for life. That’s one of my goals. Let’s see what happens.”

Verdugo is looking for a bounceback season as he settles in with his third organization, following stops with the Dodgers and Red Sox.

“As a player and an athlete, I want to reach my potential,” Verdugo said. “With the older I get, the more stability I get. I’m starting to train better; I’m starting to have the resources in the offseason, everything that I need to take the next step.”

Holmes said this week that a championship, not a contract, is what he is focused on.

“I always dream of winning a World Series in New York. I feel we have a chance to do that this year. That’s where I’m at,” Holmes said. “I’m looking forward to this season. That’s where my mental energy is toward. Obviously, I love playing for the Yankees. I love the guys in the locker room. With that being said, I look forward to this year and [seeing] where that goes.”