NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Aaron Boone sure sounds like a manager who would love to have Juan Soto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto to write on his lineup card — as most would.
Boone did not tip his hand on how close Soto or Yamamoto might be to becoming Yankees, but he sang the praises of the club’s top two offseason targets on Tuesday at the winter meetings.
Speaking generally about Soto, because he is still under contract with the Padres at least for the time being, Boone said the 25-year-old outfielder is “as good an offensive player as there is.”
“He’s a machine offensively,” Boone said at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. “On-base, power, has accomplished a ton already at a young age, durable, has been a central figure on a world championship team. Has come with a lot of fanfare and been one of the rock-solid performers in our sport on the offensive side of the ball, year in and year out. He’s a great player.”
The Yankees have had talks with the Padres about Soto, though San Diego’s asking price for the superstar with one year left on his contract has been steep — wanting both Michael King and Drew Thorpe, along with a handful of others in a potential deal.
If the Yankees ultimately sacrifice King in a trade for Soto, signing Yamamoto would help soften the blow. The Japanese right-hander, whom the Yankees have scouted heavily (including GM Brian Cashman seeing him throw a no-hitter in September), is expected to command more than $200 million.
Boone said he met Yamamoto in a previous offseason when they happened to be in the same place and was introduced to him, but plans to meet him again. The Yankees are one of the teams set to meet with Yamamoto and his representatives after the winter meetings.
“It’s hard to find a 25-year-old pitcher that’s as decorated as he is and has had the level of success he’s had at this point in his career over there and on the world stage in the WBC,” Boone said. “Our reports are that this guy’s really good, as I think the industry sees it the same way. It feels like there’s going to be a lot of suitors for him. But I feel quite confident that he’s going to come over here and be a really special top-of-the-rotation type pitcher.”
Asked if Yamamoto would look good in pinstripes, Boone chuckled.
“I think he probably would, yeah,” he said with a big grin.