After New York Mets owner Michael Cohen aggressively pursued free-agent slugger star Juan Soto, New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made it clear he would fight to keep the 26-year-old in pinstripes.

Cohen will travel to Southern California to speak with the star outfielder in hopes of potentially signing him as the Mets’ next big star. The meeting also will feature a talk with Scott Boras, Soto’s agent and one of the most prominent agents in baseball.

With Cohen going the extra mile to speak with Soto and Boras, Steinbrenner is expected to do the same. Though it is unclear when the Yankees owner will meet with Soto, it was reported that Steinbrenner will travel to California in the coming days to sit down with the slugger and his agent.

Steinbrenner’s decision to fly to Southern California echoes what Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said earlier in the week at the GM meetings. “Since [Soto] knows us, we are standing ready to meet with him if he feels it necessary to meet with us,” Cashman said, per the New York Post.

“He understands the landscape of opportunities that now exist for himself. He’s played in San Diego. He’s played in Washington. Now he’s played here. So we are more than willing to meet as many times as he would like to meet.”

It makes sense why the two teams in New York, along with the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and other clubs, are willing to pull out all the stops to land Soto. At only 26, Soto has proven himself to be one of the best players in the league and arguably a generational talent, based on the accolades he’s accumulated in his seven years in The Show.

Soto is set for a massive contract, similar to what Shohei Ohtani was given by the Los Angeles Dodgers

Soto is set for a massive contract, similar to what Shohei Ohtani was given by the Los Angeles Dodgers ( 

Image:

Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

As Cohen, Steinbrenner and other owners battle for Soto’s services, Boras has reiterated that he and his client will look at all possible options and opportunities before coming to a decision. Additionally, Boras claimed Soto wants to thoroughly examine each team and organization as a whole during the process, which could delay when he signs.

“He wants ownership that’s going to support that they are going win annually,” Boras said, according to ESPN. “Owners want to meet with Juan and sit down and talk with him about what they’re going to provide for their franchise short term and long term.”

Boras also made sure to note that Soto will be seeking a situation that gives him the best chance of success every year. “Juan loves winning and winning organizations and a winning owner,” he continued.

“The geography part of it is that Juan and his loved ones are going to be comfortable. That’s what’s most important to him. And major league geography … Juan’s played on both: West Coast and East Coast. His main thing, the priority, is winning.”

With his success at the plate and his outfield play, it is expected that Soto will be offered a contract similar to Shohei Ohtani’s worth around $600 to $700 million. This comes after Soto declined a 15-year, $440 million contract extension from the Washington Nationals.

As teams continue to wage a bidding war for the star, Soto said after the World Series he is available to any team, provided all the pieces fall into place. “I don’t want to say anyone has an advantage, because at the end of the day we’re gonna look at what they have and how much they want me,” the star claimed.