Juan Soto set the MLB world ablaze on Sunday by spurning the New York Yankees for a gigantic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets.

The 26-year-old is regarded as arguably the best pure hitter the sport has seen since Ted Williams in the 1940s and is fresh off a third-place finish in the 2024 American League MVP voting.

The Yankees will likely act quickly as they look to replace his 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, .989 OPS, and 7.9 WAR in the lineup. However, a handful of other teams also missed out on Soto – the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays – and will compete with New York for the best possible alternatives.

Here are three routes the Yankees can take to replace the Soto-sized hole in Yankee Stadium next season.

Recreate Soto in the aggregate

There is no one player the Yankees can sign in free agency who would even provide half of the value of Soto next season. In the words of Brad Pitt (as Billy Beane), New York must replicate some of his value “in the aggregate.”

So how about try two players? The Yankees know outfielder Anthony Santander well from his time with the Baltimore Orioles – he mashed 44 home runs last year (albeit with a .235 average and .814 OPS) and tallied 2.9 WAR. ESPN projects he’ll get a three-year deal worth $69 million.

Santander is a right-handed bat and the righy-dominant Yankees (Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton) need a lefty bat. How about Joc Pederson on a one-year deal? He’s a platoon bat at best but hit 23 home runs with a .908 OPS in 449 at-bats with the Arizona Diamondbacks last year.

Anthony Santander #25 of the Baltimore Orioles hits an RBI double against the New York Yankees during the fourth inning at Yankee Stadium

Anthony Santander has slugged 16 home runs against the Yankees while with the Orioles ( 

Image:

Getty Images)

Full trust in Jasson Dominguez

Yankees outfielder Jasson Dominguez was dubbed “the Martian” as a 16-year-old for his prodigal power. He’s teased that potential in his 26 career major career, mashing six homers after torching pitchers in the upper-minors.

No, there is almost no scenario where Dominguez is as good a hitter as Soto. The 21-year-old was also squeezed out of postseason at-bats because manager Aaron Boone didn’t trust his defense.

So why Dominguez? He’ll make less than $1 million this year and would allow New York to relocate their Soto-fund towards pitchers – aces Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, and Jack Flaherty could all be had for six-figure sums.

Trade for Cody Bellinger

At his peak, Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger rivaled Soto as one of the game’s best players: he posted a stunning 8.6 WAR and slugged 47 home runs during his 2019 MVP season.

He’s settled into being an above-average player and fringe All-Star, but his sweet left-handed swing certainly looks suited for the short-porch of Yankee Stadium.

Bellinger in currently in the second-year of a three-year, $80 million deal and could likely be had for salary relief and a handful of middling prospects. Could he find his 2019 form in the Bronx?