Juan Soto got paid a lot because he's a great player.

A young player in his prime.

The Yankees tried to match the Mets' offer, so it's disingenuous to act like the Yankees dodged a bullet.

I don't even think this is that complicated.

 Of course the Yankees can thrive without Juan Soto. Their Plan B has been pretty good, actually.

But it's still Plan B.

Plan A was signing Juan Soto long-term, a decade of Judge/Soto probably drawing comparisons to the greatest MLB duos of all time, and cashing in with multiple rings.