Steinbrenner: Yankees had 'good meeting' with Soto

New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said his club "had a good meeting" that was "very honest" with free-agent superstar Juan Soto on Monday, according to The Associated Press.

"I've got ears," he added when asked about the importance of getting a deal done. "I know what's expected of me."

Steinbrenner said president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, and senior adviser for baseball operations Omar Minaya all attended the meeting.

The Yankees didn't make an offer, but the team believes a second meeting about dollar-driven negotiations is possible in the coming weeks, a source told Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media.

Steinbrenner is seen as "100% committed" to being financially competitive with Soto's other suitors, including the New York Mets, Klapisch adds.

"We're in a better starting position than we were a year ago. There's no doubt about that," Steinbrenner said. "Year after year after year after year, payrolls similar to this year and the luxury taxes they produce are not sustainable, not feasible, and that’s the case for the vast majority of owners, maybe all the owners, year after year after year.

"It doesn’t mean in any given year I can’t do what I want to do. We’ve got the ability to sign any player we want to sign.”

Soto, meanwhile, apparently wanted Steinbrenner to commit to sustained excellence and highlighted areas where the Yankees need to improve.

Bidding for Soto's new deal is expected to begin around $500 million and likely exceed $600 million. Steinbrenner said he hasn't yet discussed a walk-away number, according to The Athletic's Chris Kirschner.

The star's decision is expected to coincide with the winter meetings, which run from Dec. 9-12 in Dallas.

Both parties are coming off a successful first season together in which Soto led the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009. However, they lost the Fall Classic in five games to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Soto authored one of the finest seasons of his historic career in New York. The AL MVP finalist and Silver Slugger winner slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs.