By Chris Kirschner / The Athletic
Gerrit Cole said Juan Soto had the best feel for the strike zone of any player he had come across. Aaron Judge called Soto “the greatest hitter out there.” Marcus Stroman said Soto would go down as one of the greatest players in MLB history.
On the day Soto was introduced to the news media at the New York Yankees’ spring training complex in Tampa, Florida two weeks ago, he proudly wore a shirt that said, “The generational ... Juan Soto.”
The expectations for Soto and the Yankees to deliver World Series title No. 28 are extremely high, especially because their relationship might last only one year. It’s too early to speculate on what might happen next offseason. Soto said he was using this year to get to know the organization and see what playing in New York was like before deciding on his future.
The Athletic caught up with Soto to discuss his trade to New York, why he wishes he could have spent his entire career in Washington, his preferred lineup spot and more.
(This interview was edited and condensed.)
Q: When did getting traded become something you started thinking about?
A: I was always in touch with A.J. Preller [general manager of the San Diego Padres]. He was saying that he was just listening and wasn’t trying to make a move. I always tried to tell him to let me know if he’s going to do anything. He always tried to keep it quiet and calm. As the days go on, the conversations were getting stronger and stronger. That’s when he told me that he was looking to trade me.
Q: You started your career with the Nationals. You won a title there. Do you wish you could have spent your entire career in Washington?
A: Yeah, 100%. I never wanted to leave Washington. It was a great team. I knew everybody there, from the bottom all the way to the top. I was really comfortable, and it felt like home for me. I was happy. I had a house in Washington. I was really comfortable up there. Out of nowhere, they made that decision. They thought it was the best thing for the team. I just respected it because they were really clear with me.
Q: You’re 25. You’ve been traded twice. It’s rare to have someone of your stature move as often as you have. Has it been challenging to bounce around?
A: It’s been tough. I think the toughest part is getting to know everybody and making that place feel like home. That’s the most challenging thing about it. It is what it is. This is the business part of the game. The first time I got traded, it really hurt big time. I’ve said it before, but I cried the whole morning. After that trade, I learned that this is a business.
Q: Why were you so emotional when you got traded from Washington to San Diego?
A: That was the team that gave me a chance from when I was a little kid. They saw me when I was 15 years old. They saw me grow up. I grew through the organization. I felt the best in that organization. At the end of the day, they showed me that this is a business.
Q: Last season, you had a ton of talent in San Diego. Why do you feel like it didn’t click?
A: We tried our best. A lot of our players had a good season, like incredible seasons. We had a lot of good players. I don’t know. It just happens.
Q: Do you look back and think “What if?” You guys were rolling at the end of the season.
A: If we would’ve got into the playoff race, I think we would’ve had a chance to go all the way. It would’ve been a different vibe in the playoffs. We had the best players in the whole league. What team had more talent last year than the San Diego Padres? It was incredible. I think we would’ve had a really good shot to go all the way through the World Series.
Q: You’ve had a good season every year since you’ve been in the majors. Do you feel like hitting in front of or even behind Aaron Judge could lead to your best season yet?
A: He’s an MVP-caliber player. Who doesn’t want to hit in front of Judge? That’s the best. You’re going to get more chances to hit. You’re going to get more pitches in the strike zone. I think it’s going to be great hitting in front of him, or even behind him.
Q: I’ve seen stories that you prefer hitting third. Do you still care?
A: Hitting third is where I’ve hit my whole career. Hitting second was new for me. I’m still learning from it. Right now, I’m learning and trying to get it clicked in. I think it’s going to be fine this year. This is going to be my second season hitting in the second hole. I think it will be better than last year because last year, it felt really uncomfortable. I had never done it. I had done it a little bit with Washington, but it didn’t feel the same. I’m getting more comfortable.
Q: When you look across the league, most of the best hitters are hitting second now. What is the difference between hitting second and third?
A: It’s a different feeling for me. I think it’s just because it’s new. If you ask me right now, I don’t care. If you asked me last year when it was new for me, I didn’t know how it was going to be. I definitely would’ve told you I love to hit third instead of second. It was a different feeling for me. It’s just like changing a position.
Q: Your contract situation is going to be a huge storyline this season. How is that something that you don’t think about?
A: I just believe in Scott [Boras, his agent]. He’s been with me since I was a little kid and been helping me out with everything. He’s been helping me go through these kinds of things without any worry. Scotty has everything on his hands. I trust him to death. I just come here and play baseball.
Q: You’re going to get life-changing, generational money next offseason. Have you envisioned the possibility of becoming the sport’s highest-paid player?
A: As a kid, you never think about money. You always think about playing baseball. It was always my mindset. I never had a problem with money. I was thinking about playing baseball and being prepared to do my best in baseball. You’re never worried about anything.
Q: When you look around this clubhouse, do you think this team has enough to win it all?
A: You tell me. You look around at what we have. We have everything we need. We have players who have proven themselves in the big leagues already. They know what they have to do to win games. I think we’re in a good spot because we have really good young talent.
Q: There’s a massive Dominican community in the Bronx.
A: It’s going to be unbelievable. It’s going to feel like the World Baseball Classic every night.