Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
News came out on Wednesday that free agent outfielder Shin Soo-Choo reportedly turned down a seven-year, $140 million contract offer from the New York Yankees during the winter meetings. Apparently the contract was offered after the Yankees agreed to terms with another free agent outfielder, Jacoby Ellsbury. It also seems as though as soon as the Yankees’ initial offer to Soo-Choo was turned down, they shifted their focus and signed Carlos Beltran instead.
First of all, the big question is, why did Soo-Choo turn down that contract from the Yankees? It was said that Soo-Choo’s agent Scott Boras wanted at least what Ellsbury received, if not more, to have his client sign there. Could he really have given up on the security of a seven-year deal just for $13 million, which is the difference between what Ellsbury signed for and what the Yankees offered? Or could it be that Soo-Choo just didn’t want to play in the Bronx?
With this news, you can be assured that several other teams are out on Soo-Choo due to the contract that was rejected. Could he have priced himself out of Texas as well? The Texas Rangers have been a possible landing spot for the outfielder, but now I am not too sure.
Soo-Choo is a great player and will make whatever team he signs with better, but I am just not sure there is going to be an offer out there that will beat the one that was rejected. There is a chance that he will sign a shorter deal with a club for more annually, all to become a free agent again next season or the season after.
The Rangers could just stand pat on what they have, which is decent the way it is, or they could switch their focus to former Ranger Nelson Cruz.
John Ginder is a contributor for the Texas Rangers for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jginderthw or add him to your network on Google
