World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers v New York Yankees – Game 5 / Alex Slitz/GettyImages

If you believed in the New York Yankees re-upping with Juan Soto throughout their storybook season together, you’re not alone. Sure, Soto was always bound for a record-approaching (or shattering) contract, but he was also a clear appreciator of baseball history. His year in pinstripes could not have gone more spectacularly (well, it could have gone one degree more spectacularly, but still). Steve Cohen’s deep pockets were always bound to make the Mets a genuine free agent threat, but in the end, as long as the Yankees approached Cohen’s offer, they still seemed like the legacy pick.

Thursday’s story about Cohen’s first visit to Soto and Scott Boras in California somehow flipped that narrative on its head with one offhand Brian Cashman remark.

The Yankees’ exclusive negotiating window with Soto is up, and the generational slugger will now decline the qualifying offer that tethers him to the Bronx and begin to listen to offers. It’s going to take a lot of meetings to get this to the finish line, no matter who ends up footing the bill.

That’s apparently obvious to everyone except Cashman, who apparently shared this unfortunate nugget with the New York Post:

“Several other owners are expected to meet with Boras and Soto in the coming weeks. It’s unclear if that includes Hal Steinbrenner — Yankees GM Brian Cashman recently said it’s possible Soto’s familiarity with the organization from last season might preclude a meeting.”

MLB Free Agency: Steve Cohen sets meeting with Juan Soto. Yankees follow with Hal Steinbrenner.

Yeah, no big deal. Most important offseason addition of the next 15 years, most likely, given the stakes and skill level. Hugely pivotal fork in the road for both the Yankees’ and Mets’ franchises. Every other interested party is going to put the full-court press on to blow Soto away. The Yankees? Eh, no need. He knows us. He wants to meet with Hal, he can meet with Hal.

Luckily, less than 24 hours later, Jon Heyman came through with the good news — or was it good? Steinbrenner decided, in the wake of Cohen’s cross-country flight, that he was going to set up an immediate meeting with Soto, too.

Glad he did it, but the hurried nature of the coverage really makes it seem like we went from “being comfortable letting Soto take meetings” to “realizing the Mets are moving quickly,” something Hal and Co. should’ve long known.

Yes, Soto’s familiarity with the Yankees — from both 2024 and his entire life as an observer of victories — will be paramount in this race. But, crucially, if the rest of the league is using time and resources to sell Soto on leaving the Bronx, it might behoove the Yankees to counteract that with as much of their own messaging as possible.

Steinbrenner flying west is essential. He closed Aaron Judge’s extension by opening the checkbook when pressured. He closed Carlos Rodón with Boras in the room (actually, maybe this uncertainty is punishment for doing that). In recent years, he’s been the one players can appeal to when they want to return to the Yankees, but can’t get a read on Cashman.

This pivot never should’ve been necessary, but at least it happened quickly. Letting Soto get away is one thing. Ignoring him while he gets away is quite another.