Juan Soto is endorsing Blake Snell for the New York Yankees, and this has made the baseball world curious.

On one hand, some believe that it’s a genuine desire to strengthen the team. On the other, there are brewing whispers of an ulterior motive. So what is it about this subject that’s gaining so much traction?

There is an underlying connection. Both Soto and Snell are the powerful super agent Scott Boras’ clients. This fact is fuel for speculation that Soto’s advocacy is not so much about on-field impact as it is about leveraging the Yankees’ pursuit of Snell to secure a conducive extension for himself.

New Perspectives Fuel the Fire as Juan Soto and the New York Yankees Discuss Extension

Social media is flooded with comments supporting this theory. One of the tweets read, “Juan Soto has joined Aaron Judge, and Gerrit Cole is advocating all out for Blake Snell (@snellzilla4) to the @Yankees. The Pressure on the #Yankees to get this deal skyrockets with this as it likely means Soto is using it to help his extension talks! @JuanSoto25_”. This makes one wonder if Scott Boras is the mind behind this action.

Well, another layer to this perspective surfaced on social media. Is it possible that Brian Cashman is telling Boras that he’d sign the 2x Cy Young award winner contingent on Soto accepting a lifetime extension immediately? There are no reports refuting the above, which makes it likely that there’s a strategy at play with Soto’s own contract negotiations in mind.

Whether there is a master plan or not, Soto’s praise for his former teammate’s talent and personality is genuine. But it’s the timing of his public endorsement that gives the world food for thought. With contract talks underway, using his influence to nudge the Yankees in the direction of a specific player could be seen as an astute tactic. That said, it’s important to look at this from the lens of the Yankees.

The Yankees’ Dilemma 

The Yankees are already exceeding the luxury tax threshold and are faced with a big decision. Now, adding Snell’s hefty salary would strain their financial capabilities further. On the contrary, the possibility of a supremely dominant rotation with Cole and Snell, coupled with the dominance of Soto is infatuating. While drooling over this is inevitable, it makes the situation quite complex.

But isn’t it known that the world of professional sports blends camaraderie with calculated business decisions? In this case, the 25-year-old Dominican’s support for Snell could be a mix of both. Only time can tell if the Yankees bite the bait (if it’s a bait) and sign Snell. Now this is an intriguing case to follow closely.