Report: Yankees 'encouraged' after meeting with Soto

The New York Yankees are feeling "encouraged" about their chances of signing Juan Soto to a long-term contract after their first meeting Monday, a source told Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media.

While no offer was made, the Yankees believe the door is open for a second meeting involving dollar-driven negotiations in the coming weeks, Klapisch reports.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, team president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, and senior Advisor Omar Minaya reportedly all attended the meeting.

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

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

The star's decision is expected to coincide with the winter meetings, which will run from Dec. 9 to 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 award winner slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs.