The Yankees extended a qualifying offer to Juan Soto ahead of the deadline of 5 p.m. ET on Monday, a move that ensures the club would receive a compensatory pick in next year’s MLB Draft should the outfielder sign with another club.

If the Yankees lose Juan Soto, what they should diligently work to gain is aligning as an actual team. The joke that Soto was named an AL right field Gold Glove finalist is that the Yankees had a proper candidate for the honor;