Boras: Signing 'centurions' like Soto increases Yankees' value

Scott Boras believes the New York Yankees would benefit from signing outfielder Juan Soto to a long-term contract, and the agent recently used some colorful language to hammer home his point.

"When you represent players who I call 'centurions’ where you can say that they will be among the top 100 players to ever play this game, when you represent them you don't worry about the cost of them for a franchise because they increase the franchise value of the team," Boras said, according to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner.

"The only cost is what it costs to build the monument."

Boras' comments come one week after Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said the franchise's current $300-million-plus payroll is not sustainable moving forward, complicating a potential Soto extension, especially if he expectedly enters free agency.

The Yankees have more than $40 million coming off the books after 2024, and there are other ways to clear payroll, including not picking up options on certain players. But Soto will command a hefty salary, one that could shatter records.

The 25-year-old already turned down a 15-year, $440-million extension from the Washington Nationals in 2022 and was unable to work out an extension with the San Diego Padres before they traded him to the Bronx.

"I understand that any owner should be responsible and any owner should do good business, but when you have a chance to pursue a centurion, you're only going to have that happen maybe, at best, if you own the team 40, 50 years, three or four times," Boras said.

Soto is performing well in his first campaign with the Yankees. He's slashing .312/.408/.581 with 15 home runs and 46 RBIs in 56 games. Yankees fans serenaded him with MVP chants after he hit two homers during a May 22 game against the Seattle Mariners.