Yankees need to weather current storm as Juan Soto rumors remain favorable

Regardless of the outcome of the Subway Series, the "Citi Field experience" is nothing compared to the "Yankee Stadium experience." It just isn't. Stop it. The Bleacher Creatures on their worst day aren't 1/10 as cringeworthy as the Seven Line Army. There's the door if you think otherwise.

But the truth right now is that the Yankees are going through it. It's, by far, their worst stretch of baseball in 2024 and is giving fans uncomfortable feelings reminiscent of 2023. Though Juan Soto very much seems unfazed by it, you can never be so sure.

All we're asking if that the Yankees don't let this get out of hand. Do not spiral into the depths of baseball ineptitude and give this man a reason to swear off the franchise when the offseason arrives. Everybody already knows he will be testing free agency, but the Yanks will have first dibs. That's not changing.

Don't tell that to Mets fans, though, who are doing whatever this is in public. Mets Twitter is also re-upping the recruitment efforts that started (somehow) in spring training. Pathetic.

Yankees need to weather current storm as Juan Soto rumors remain favorable

We'll listen to MLB insider Jon Heyman, who recently dropped a column in the New York Post discussing Soto's eventual plans after 2024. Though we've largely ignored whatever chatter that's focused on the distant future, Heyman's well-connected and is also famous for his relationship with Soto's agent, Scott Boras.

Though the first bit of Heyman's piece suggested there's no chance Soto will sign in-season (we already knew that), there were a bunch of positive Yankees tidbits from Heyman as he connected the dots with Soto's recent commentary.

Sorry Mets fans, the below-.500 Amazin's probably didn't sway Soto to skip town and take an imaginary paycheck from Steve Cohen after one game. Heyman continues to reiterate the Yankees remain the favorite, and Soto's focus is on winning a World Series with New York. Though free agency is in his future, it's far from a priority for him right now. That time will come. His experience with the Yankees is something he's spoke glowingly about and has expressed joy over.

In another piece from Yankees insider Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Soto's relationship with star slugger Aaron Judge was detailed. The two sit next to each other in meetings and pick one another's brains in their effort to maintain top-dog status as the best duo in baseball. Kuty suggests Soto's relationship with Judge could influence an offseason reunion when the time comes.

But again, it hinges on the Yankees keeping their cool during this slide. Soto himself acknowledged that this is part of the ebb and flow of the baseball season, but the Yankees have found new ways to crater from 2021-2023, arguably worse than any contender out there. If they can stay the course and remain largely unscathed between now and the break, then great.

If not, then those delusional conversations about Soto leaving the Yankees and the "he's only here for a year!" nonsense will come to life worse than ever before.