DALLAS – Sitting in a hotel room at the Hilton Anatole, the site of the Winter Meetings, Brian Cashman recalled his pursuit of CC Sabathia in December 2008.
“I flew into his home to close the deal out,” Cashman said Wednesday. “And a lot was made of me closing that out and flying into the home. It was like John Calipari going to the home and closing a recruit. And a lot of stories were generated from that. But the truth of the matter is, I hit him over the head with a big bunch of cash. That story wasn’t written as much. I was like, ‘Wow, it makes me sound like I’m Superman.’”
Cashman was trying to make a point: despite his personal touch, money got the deal done with Sabathia.
The general manager shared that anecdote because he was asked about a few stories regarding the Yankees’ failed pursuit of Juan Soto, who agreed to a record-setting, 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets at the start of the Winter Meetings. The deal includes an opt-out/escalator clause that can raise the sum to $805 million.
According to the New York Post’s Jon Heyman, the Mets included a suite at Citi Field for Soto’s family. The Yankees, who offered Soto a final, blind bid of 16 years and $760 million, were only willing to include a suite at a discounted price.
Cashman said the team felt it was right to “honor” previous arrangements that had other players paying for their suites. He didn’t think the issue moved “the possession arrow one way or another when you’re making that kind of money.”
“Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” Cashman continued, noting that Sabathia, Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole have done that. “No regrets there.”
Cashman mentioned that the Yankees provide a suite for players’ family members, in addition to outdoor seats. The Yankees also offer babysitting and a family room, complete with activities for kids.
“However it gets played out, whether it’s the suite was the issue or whatever it’s like, ‘Was it really?’” Cashman added.
Scott Boras, Soto’s agent, declined to comment on the suite matter on Wednesday. He didn’t answer many questions about his client during a long scrum at the Hilton, as the Mets had yet to officially announce Soto’s contract.
Another story said that Soto was allegedly upset early in the 2024 season over an issue with a Yankees security guard. According to the Post’s Heyman, the guard restricted a member of Soto’s family and his chef/driver from certain areas, and the Mets were aware of the incident when they met with the superstar.
Cashman said he had no prior knowledge of the happening.
“It never came up with us,” Cashman said. “I’m not saying it couldn’t happen, but if it was such a big deal, I would have heard from Scott Boras.”
Asked if the Yankees could have done anything different in the Soto sweepstakes, Cashman said, “Nope.” He noted that, by all accounts, the right fielder enjoyed playing in the Bronx, with his teammates and for Aaron Boone as the Yankees reached their first World Series since 2009.
Asked if he was curious to hear Soto’s reasoning for signing with the Mets, Cashman said, “I don’t think it makes any difference one way or the other.” He understands that Soto, who also received interest from the Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers, had a difficult choice and did what he felt was best for him and his family.
“If you have a lot of choices, it becomes debilitating, crippling. ‘What’s best? I don’t know! Fifteen years, 16 years of my entire life.’ There’s a lot of pros and cons. You can play mind games left and right,” Cashman said. “At some point, you gotta make a decision and live with that decision, and he made that.
“We had a hell of a run together. He was a big reason for it. And now it’s time to recreate.”
