Yankees’ Juan Soto a franchise-boosting ‘centurion’: Scott Boras

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Juan Soto needs little help endorsing himself ahead of his looming free agency, his top-tier talent speaking for itself.

But his agent, Scott Boras, has added a new line to Soto’s résumé: “centurion,” as in one of the top 100 players to ever play the game.

“I don’t think centurions, for any team, are what you would consider a cost to a team, because it’s franchise-appreciation addition,” Boras told reporters on Tuesday from his suite at Angel Stadium before the Yankees’ 4-3 loss. “So whatever your franchise is worth, a centurion on your team would thereby make the team worth billions more.”

Boras’ comments came after Hal Steinbrenner said last week that the Yankees’ payroll this season — currently about $313 million for luxury-tax purposes — was “simply not sustainable.” The Yankees do have roughly $40 million set to come off the books next season in pending free agents, and Soto is currently making $31 million in his final year of arbitration. He added to his appeal with his 15th home run of the season Tuesday, a solo blast in the first inning. He finished 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs.

Still, Steinbrenner has said he hopes to start contract talks with Soto and Boras during the season, even if it remains overwhelmingly likely that Soto reaches free agency, when the then-26-year-old outfielder is expected to land a contract in excess of $500 million.

“In general, centurion-type players add literally millions and millions of dollars to a franchise value,” Boras said. “The opportunity for investment like this comes along in an owner’s career very rarely.