Yankees' Brian Cashman Explains Not Including Free Suite in Juan Soto Contract Offer

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman explained why the team didn't throw in a free family suite in their 16-year, $760 million contract offer to superstar outfielder Juan Soto before he left for the New York Mets on a 15-year, $765 million contract offer (which did include a suite).

"Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them for their family or Legends seats or whatever," Cashman said from the Winter Meetings in Dallas, per Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post. "Whether it's CC [Sabathia], whether it's Judge, whether it's [Gerrit] Cole, whether it's any of these guys."

Jon Heyman reported on the Mets' inclusion of the suite (and the Yankees' exclusion of one) for the New York Post.

"All along, the Mets' offers ran only slightly ahead, and it's possible only relatively small things helped, too. The combination of perks that included a signing bonus of $75M (the Yankees offered $60M), escalators that can take the deal to $805 million, a no-trade clause, no deferrals (the Yankees also had none), the fifth-year opt-out (at age 30), and a suite for the Soto family probably helped push them over the finish line.

"The Yankees shouldn't be faulted for bidding a whopping $760M, but they wouldn't budge on the suite. The Yankees felt they couldn't give a suite to Soto when Judge pays for his suite, and even Derek Jeter paid. They were willing to discount a suite but not alter their precedent.

"Cohen didn't give the suite much of a thought. When he has his eyes on a prize, he is singularly focused."

Cashman's logic makes sense, especially given that the team's biggest star (Aaron Judge) and a franchise legend (Derek Jeter) didn't get that perk under his watch.

He also doesn't believe that was a factor in Soto choosing the Mets.

"However it gets played out [in media], whether it's like, 'The suite was the issue' or whatever. It's like: Was it really?" Cashman said, per Sanchez.

Ultimately, Soto got a little more money with the Mets at a higher average annual value. And per ESPN's Jeff Passan, Soto may have felt his new team had a brighter future.

That future does include a free Citi Field suite for his family and friends, though, and it will be utilized as soon as Friday, April 4, when the Mets host the Toronto Blue Jays for their 2025 home opener.