Five players the New York Yankees could sign if they miss out on Juan Soto this offseason

The New York Yankees are desperate to retain Juan Soto and keep him as their star of the future. However, in the lottery to sign baseball’s most coveted free agent, the team could fail.

As his decision looms on where he will play for the next decade, the Yankees would be foolish not to have made backup plans in case Soto decides to play elsewhere in his future.

Soto has not said where he plans to go, as rumors circulate about his destination.

The Yankees are believed to be in the thick of the race to get Soto to put pen to paper along with the crosstown rival Mets and division rivals Boston and Toronto.

The pain of losing Soto would be powerful, but they could soften that blow with another superstar to play alongside Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.

Here are five players the Yankees should try to sign if Soto decides to play elsewhere.

Pete Alonso

If Juan Soto stays in New York and doesn’t return to the Bronx, Alonso’s asking price would likely be too high for the Mets to match, despite owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to spend money.

The Yankees would be prepared, with a team ready to win now, to give Alonso options to essentially take the money Soto would have received to not go to Queens.

Alonso will turn 30 on Saturday, which means he’s older than the 26-year-old Soto, but he still offers more youth than the Yankees would have in the middle of their lineup.

If this unconventional exchange comes to fruition, how interesting the Subway Series would be next May and July.

Antonio Santander

Here’s arguably the next biggest outfield star on the market, who will likely cash in on a massive contract after Soto signs his next deal.

Landing Santander would take away one of the best non-Yankees in the AL East and bring him to the Bronx.

Santander won’t get as big a contract as Soto, but he’ll probably want job security with a winning team until he’s 30.

Defensively, Santander fills a need with Soto as absent as anyone else on the market with his ability to play multiple outfield positions.

Corbin Burnes

After Soto, Burnes is the best player in free agency. Most other years, with this cycle and last year being two major exceptions, Burnes would be the big prize of the offseason.

Burnes is the best pitching prospect on the board and will be the best starter on most teams.

If the Yankees lose Soto, the team’s direction may change, with a greater focus on winning games primarily from the mound, rather than from the center of their batting order.

Burnes wearing pinstripes wouldn’t be so far-fetched even if New York retains Soto. The Yankees should land a top pitcher this offseason, with Burnes their number one priority.

Alex Bregman

Bregman has only played for the Astros at the major league level, and will likely find a new home this offseason.

Despite all the alleged cheating and hate Houston has deservedly received, Bregman’s name surprisingly doesn’t carry much stigma.

Bregman knows a thing or two about being on a winning team and might have the killer instinct needed to get a Yankees team moving forward.

The only problem is that Bregman already adds an area of ​​strength to New York’s infield, but he has more experience than anyone with whom he would create a positional battle.

Jurickson Profar

Profar has bounced around the league a bit and is 31 years old, but found his groove with the Padres last season, making his first All-Star Game.

Profar could be ready to break out and be seen as one of the best players in baseball, and he may already be the most underrated star in the game.

His arrival in New York could be an ideal situation, as he has rarely been the best player on his own team and wouldn’t be in New York.

If the Yankees’ plan to replace Soto if he leaves is to bring in several stars, Profar seems like a no-brainer.