The Yankees came into this offseason with one priority: re-signing Juan Soto. Not only was it their top objective, but it was also something that hovered over the franchise from the time they acquired Soto from the Padres last offseason all the way through their trip to the World Series this past October.

For some, it might still seem like a hefty sum, while others might not bat an eye. But the Yankees hadn't managed to trim their payroll with all the big names on their roster.