Yankees not fearful of Steve Cohen’s deep pockets in Juan Soto pursuit

SAN ANTONIO — Steve Cohen’s nett worthy mightiness importantly outshine nan Steinbrenner family’s, but nan Yankees aren’t worried that will forestall them from retaining nan champion subordinate connected nan free-agent market. 

At nan GM meetings connected Tuesday, Yankees wide head Brian Cashman acknowledged nan Mets are a threat to motion Juan Soto.

And yet, he said, nan Mets’ seemingly unlimited resources pinch Cohen arsenic nan proprietor guarantee thing and laughed erstwhile asked if Cohen made him nervous. 

“That is conscionable nan quality of nan beast,” Cashman said. “[But] big-market owners pinch heavy pockets aren’t nan only ones signing players to large deals. You person seen nan San Diego Padres sitting retired connected nan westbound coast, they person imported a batch of big-time players and big-time contracts and outcompeted teams of liking for, truthful it comes successful various forms, successful various cities astatine various times. 

“The marketplace this clip of twelvemonth is coming this beardown from each different aspects of nan shot universe, truthful we person to do our champion to compete pinch whomever connected a year-in and year-out basis.” 

Cohen’s nett worth, according to Forbes, is $21.3 billion.

Yankees managing wide partner Hal Steinbrenner and his 3 siblings (or their families) each person a nett worthy of $1.5 billion, according to nan aforesaid source. 

Soto, 26, could beryllium successful statement for a statement successful nan $600 cardinal neighborhood. 

Cashman was asked what benignant of threat nan Mets airs successful nan Soto sweepstakes. 

“They want to win,” Cashman said. “They are successful a ample marketplace pinch us, had a sensation of occurrence this twelvemonth and they want to move nan needle moreover much forward. The champion measurement to do that is import value players to what you already have. That is what we, they and anybody willing successful winning, being nan past squad opinionated — that is what it’s each about, trying to find awesome players and adhd it to your mix.” 

Even pinch Cohen’s heavy pockets, nan Mets ne'er sewage heavy progressive successful Shohei Ohtani’s free agency past winter, sensing nan Japanese prima wanted to stay connected nan westbound seashore — he yet signed a heavy deferred 10-year statement worthy $700 cardinal pinch nan Dodgers.

The Mets pursued Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but nan Japanese right-hander — pinch a akin connection from nan Mets arsenic leverage — accepted a 12-year woody worthy $325 cardinal from nan Dodgers. 

Cashman has begun his recruitment of Soto, who deed 41 homers and posted a .989 OPS successful helping nan Yankees to nan World Series.

Cashman said he had discussions connected Tuesday pinch Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, astir a imaginable reunion, and nan Yankees are prepared to put their “best ft forward.” But Cashman besides indicated that re-signing Soto wasn’t imperative. 

“If we can’t [retain Soto], there’s a batch of different players successful this marketplace that tin positively effect this roster successful different ways,” Cashman said. “We want to research immoderate measurement imaginable to put together nan champion squad we tin for 2025 because we want to get backmost to wherever we conscionable finished, which was successful nan World Series.” 

The Post reported past week that nan Mets were believed to beryllium among nan first activity of teams to cheque successful connected Soto pursuing nan Yankees’ nonaccomplishment to nan Dodgers successful Game 5 of nan World Series.

But Mets president of shot operations David Stearns is yet to publically admit nan team’s liking successful Soto. 

Cashman said it’s still unclear if Soto and Yankees brass will meet successful person. 

“Since he knows us, we are opinionated fresh to meet pinch him if he feels it basal to meet pinch us,” Cashman said. “He understands nan scenery of opportunities that now beryllium for himself. He’s played successful San Diego. He’s played successful Washington. Now he’s played here. So we are much than consenting to meet arsenic galore times arsenic he would for illustration to meet.”