Juan Soto endorses Yankees signing Blake Snell

MLB

exclusive

By Jon Heyman

TAMPA — New Yankees superstar Juan Soto enthusiastically endorsed the idea of the team signing National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell, which would make the Yankees the first team to combine the two reigning Cy Young winners in one Opening Day rotation.

“It would be unbelievable to have two Cy Young winners going back to back, it’d be great,” Soto told The Post about his former Padres teammate and Yankees ace Gerrit Cole. “[Snell’s] a great guy, a great player. Any help that we can get I would love.

“I know if he’s coming over, he’s going to help the team big-time. It’s always great to have great talent on the team. I would never say no. So it’s a great fit for him, I think.”

The Yankees are said to like Snell very much, but while dialogue between the sides has been ongoing for weeks, there hasn’t been much progress lately.

The Post reported that the Yankees spoke to Snell’s camp Monday, and while ideas continue to be exchanged, it isn’t believed the most recent talk resulted in any real movement.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner himself has been involved in talks.

But while the Yankees love Snell’s talent, ownership has concern about a $30 million or so annual salary adding $33 million to their tax bill since they are already over the $297 million fourth-tier tax threshold at around $307 million, according to Cot’s Contracts.

Snell’s market has been surprisingly quiet despite a superb overall track record that actually includes two Cy Youngs (one more than even Cole, who won the AL award last year for the first time), but Soto wanted to clear up any misperception about Snell’s persona, if that’s what’s holding up his market.

“He’s a great dude, he’s a great guy,” Soto said. “He’s always right there, cheering for his teammates. He’s a funny guy, too. He’s great in the clubhouse.”

Snell’s market isn’t known, but word is several teams have been checking in on both star free-agent starters, including ex-Yankee Jordan Montgomery.

Montgomery seems to have more teams in the mix, possibly including his old Rangers team, which he helped lead to their first World Series title last season, and Boston, where he lives in the winter since his wife is training to be a doctor there.

The Giants, Angels and possibly Phillies are among other teams that are seen as potential Snell suitors.

Snell seems to be of greater interest to the Yankees. While Yankees players loved Montgomery, a few stars are said to be huge Snell fans — not just Soto.

Steinbrenner consults with Cole and superstar Aaron Judge on all major personnel matters, but to this point the team’s other megastars haven’t made public endorsements of Snell, not that they are opposed.

(Cole, in particular, declined to talk about what he told Steinbrenner, apologizing but saying those conversations will remain private.)

Snell via his camp is believed to have recently suggested a willingness to be flexible and listen to short-term offers with opt-outs, much like the one star outfielder Cody Bellinger did to return to the Cubs.

Meantime, talks continue while spring training does, too.

“I think he’s just waiting for the perfect spot for him,” Soto said. “It is what it is. It happened before, with [Manny] Machado, and with [Bryce] Harper. Those guys signed late, in spring training. They were asking for the money, and they got it.”

Should the Yankees be the ones to sign Snell, they’d join the 1990 Royals as the only team with two reigning Cy Young winners on their Opening Day roster.

Mark Davis, however, was a reliever, so the Yankees would be the first to have both in their rotation.