I pride myself on trying to be the best writer I can be. That includes having a good friend as an editor. But in this world of auto correctness on my I Pad, even the best intentions of providing the right words can go awry. Which is why I humbly apologize to those who loyally read this blog. When a mistake appears, it is with my profound regret.
Speaking of profound regret, Yankees fans are rueing the announcement that Juan Soto has elected to take his huge talent to Queens and be a New York Met. All for the measly amount of $765 million over 15 years, with no deferrals, a $75 million signing bonus and an opt out clause after 5 years when the superstar will reach age 31, if reports are accurate.
It’s not that the Yankees didn’t make a real push to retain Soto. Owner Hal Steinbrenner’s package added a 16th year and totaled only $5 million less than the money Mets owner Steve Cohen ponied up. He really tried, but for unknown reasons which some day will be revealed, Soto walked away from remaining paired with Aaron Judge as a dynamic one-two punch in the NYY outfield.
First, let me say this: the money involved here is obscene. The contract is more than the best contracts that Tom Brady and Lebron James signed—together. It surpasses the MLB record set by Shohei Ohtani when he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers a year ago. He’s now reached the Judge Judy level of compensation—$47 million—and she worked far fewer hours and days than Soto will be expected to toil. Maybe she had a better agent than Scott Boras, who represented Soto during these negotiations.
Ohtani brought instant dividends on the LAD investment, as his record-setting season translated into a World Series win over Soto, Judge and the Yankees. Ohtani rose to the occasion and overcame the pressure he had placed on himself. Plus Ohtani is going to return to the mound in 2025, which Soto will not be doing.
That LAD team was loaded with stars on the field to support Ohtani. The team had enough firepower to overcome major pitching deficiencies and still win it all.
While the Mets overachieved last season in losing to the Dodgers in the NLCS, the team isn’t as deep or strong as Los Angeles. They have a void at first base which occurred when slugger Pete Alonso became a free agent. The current vibes aren’t for The Polar Bear to continue to wear a Mets jersey in 2025.
Moreover, the Mets pitching is a bit suspect and there are other holes on the field which need to be addressed. Having an infielder like Francisco Lindor doesn’t hurt at all. Cohen and GM David Stearns must spend the money wisely to make the Mets a strong contender to overcome the likes of the Dodgers, Phillies, Braves and Padres in a highly competitive National League.
Yes, Soto has put a big, fat target on himself. Can he flourish under such pressure? Will he remain injury-free? With so much money invested in him, nothing less than a couple of World Series wins is now expected of him, as well as garnering a NL M.V.P. or more if Ohtani fails to have another monster year or two.
As I learned in my Property and Contracts courses in law school—Caveat Emptor—let the buyer beware. In the spirit of public service, I pass this along to you giddy Mets fans
Meanwhile, Yankees faithful, all is far from lost. Yes, Soto was a huge contributor in 2024. But there were other pieces of the puzzle which need to be addressed besides one outfield spot. GM Brian Cashman has always had multiple plans to go forward should the Yankees not secure Soto. Those alternatives could upgrade holes at first and third bases while moving Jazz Chisholm to his natural position of second base. Jasson Dominguez can finally show the potential expected of him when allowed to play his comfortable position of center field. Get a good left fielder and shore up the starting pitching from a bevy of high end talent available plus reload the bullpen and the Yankees are once more a solid contender.
`The same goes for those teams which also lost out on Soto. Boston has young talent in the minors; the Dodgers need more pitching (always); Philadelphia is a starting pitcher and another batter away from a title; plus the Braves will have healthy talent back for the 2025 season.
No, losing Juan Soto to the Mets isn’t the end of the world. Getting him may not be the panacea that the Mets might believe they have.
Switching topics, the College Football Playoffs are set after a rousing round of conference championships on Saturday. Oregon was tested by Penn State and remains the only undefeated team in the hunt. A worthy #1 seed.
Georgia may have battled hard and outlasted Texas to grab the Southeastern Conference Championship. But star QB Carson Beck was lost to an undisclosed elbow injury and they lost their top tier punter. As talented a team as the Bulldogs may be, I just don’t see them getting to the title game. Texas might have a better chance at that, and I was far from impressed with their discipline and QB Quinn Ewers.
Clemson and SMU may have staged an epic battle in the ACC. Neither one has the talent to maybe even get by the first round. Boise State and Notre Dame are wild cards; the latter may have its hands full with in-state rival Indiana in the first round, while BSU’s resume has a close road loss to Oregon early in the season on its resume. That’s a long time ago.
The winner of Tennessee and Ohio State in Columbus could have a lot to say about the outcome of these playoffs. And Big 12 champ Arizona State is a team on the rise. They could be the dark horse of the tournament.
Whatever happens, it’s gonna be fun. Finally a sure test of wills coupled with enough deserving teams to declare a true champion.
One more thing to those who think SEC teams like South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi should have made this edition of the CFP. This is not the SEC Tournament. Especially for a team like Alabama which, while it has a big win over Georgia, lost to Vanderbilt. That’s not going to get you into the field.
Pro football has been very enticing as the season now has four games left. Much has been decided as to which teams make the playoffs and which are going home.
In New York, mediocrity reigns supreme (again). The Jets had a lead and lost it for the second week in a row—this time losing in overtime to a Miami team still in the hunt for a playoff berth. The Giants just were dreadful losing to the Saints. Both teams will be searching for a franchise quarterback in the upcoming draft (again).
While Kansas City continues its streak of winning close games with a “doink” game-winning field goal off the upright against a solid Los Angeles Chargers team, Buffalo suffered a loss to the hungry Los Angeles Rams in LA, putting the Bills two games behind the Chiefs for the top seed in the AFC. Buffalo has the easier schedule remaining, so winning out and KC dropping two games would give Buffalo the AFC top seed.
We are going to learn a lot about the Pittsburgh Steelers in the coming weeks, beginning with an away Sunday clash with Philadelphia, the second-best team in the NFC. The Eagles seem to have internal problems involving QB Jalen Hurts and mercurial WR Antonio Brown.
Pittsburgh’s last four games have to be the most challenging schedule in the NFL. Besides Philly, the Steelers travel to a very hostile Baltimore to determine AFC North supremacy; host the Chiefs on Christmas Day; and end with a home finale against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team which remains alive for a playoff spot after winning in Dallas on Monday night, when the Cowboys’ special team botched a blocked punt, handing the Bengals an early holiday gift.
Should the Steelers win out or even take three of four, would aging Russell Wilson be considered for the league M.V.P. award other than by Ciara? I know that Josh Allen in Buffalo is putting up incredible numbers as is Jared Goff in Detroit. But if the Steelers continue to win, how can Wilson’s contributions be overlooked?
And let’s not overlook Sam Darnold and the job he has done in Minnesota. The Vikings have lost only two games and while they play the Bears at home on Monday night, their last three games involve the current NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks; a very good divisional foe in Green Bay; before finishing the season in Detroit which may be for the top seed in the conference.
Baseball taking precedence in December over football? Not so astonishing when it is a Soto-Majeure?
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