When the New York Yankees acquired Juan Soto late last year, they knew they were getting themselves into a risky situation.

The risk doesn’t have anything to do with Soto’s skill level: he is one of the most dangerous hitters in the world at the moment and has a long track record of success, so he should fit right in with the offense-starved Yankees.

The risk exists because the Yankees might have traded a few years of cheap team control of five good players for just one season of Soto.

That’s right, the benefits of getting the perennial All-Star are somewhat mitigated by the fact he will be around just one year: 2024.

And judging by the fact he has rejected major extension offers ever since he was a member of the Washington Nationals, he does seem inclined to test the free-agent market.

Yankees GM Brian Cashman knows this, and his recent quotes don’t give fans too much optimism.

“Regarding Juan Soto, Brian Cashman said that ‘the odds are this is a one-year situation’ before Soto will become a free agent. ‘I don’t see too many things stopping him from reaching free agency,’” Yankees insider Bryan Hoch tweeted.

What can be interpreted from what Cashman said is that Soto might or might not be a Yankee for the long-term because he could potentially re-sign as a free agent; but the odds of an extension are slim to none.

The Yankees will have a full year to convince him that it is the right place for him to settle down and play for the next 10 or 15 years.

Other than that, if they want to keep him, they will have to pay him handsomely.