Top MLB Contenders Already Pursuing Superstar Juan Soto in Free Agency
As baseball’s top free agent, Juan Soto is already generating a ton of buzz and interest across the league. According to a report from Jon Heyman of the New York Post, several big-market powerhouses have already reached out to Soto’s camp to express their desire to sign the 26-year-old superstar.
The Heavy Hitters Enter the Fray
The list of teams that have contacted Soto includes some of the biggest spenders in baseball: the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and San Francisco Giants.
All of these organizations have the financial resources to potentially offer Soto a contract worth close to $700 million, which would shatter records for the largest deal in MLB history.
A Surprise Entrant: The Tampa Bay Rays
One unexpected team that has also reached out to Soto is the Tampa Bay Rays. The Rays, boasting the third-lowest payroll in MLB last season at just $88 million, might appear as an unlikely contender for a player who typically commands a salary of at least $50-60 million annually. However, the resourceful Rays front office is clearly exploring every avenue to try and land the superstar outfielder.
The Battle for New York
While the Rays’ interest is certainly noteworthy, the real fireworks are expected to come from the two New York-based teams—the Yankees and Mets. League executives predict that the cross-town rivals will engage in a fierce competition for free agents.
“It’s the Yankees or the Mets,” one American League executive told ESPN’s Mark Feinsand. “He knows the Yankees well after spending a year there, and Steve Cohen has enough money to give him whatever he wants if he decides he wants him badly enough. It’s tough for me to see Soto winding up anywhere else.”
Midway through the 2024 season, the Yankees traded Soto, who is believed to prefer staying on the East Coast. That could give the Yankees and Mets an advantage over West Coast teams like the Dodgers.
The Mets, led by the deep-pocketed owner Steve Cohen, will likely make a strong push to pair Soto with their existing core of stars. However, the Yankees may have the edge, as Soto is already familiar with the organization and could opt to continue hitting in front of slugger Aaron Judge.
“Does Soto want to continue hitting in front of [Aaron] Judge, or does he want the most money?” The executive pondered. “Unless the Mets significantly outperform the Yankees’ offer, why would he consider leaving [the Yankees]?” the executive pondered.
A Wide-Open Pursuit While the Yankees and Mets may be the frontrunners, several other teams are expected to get involved in the Soto sweepstakes. The Philadelphia Phillies, who employed several of Soto’s former Nationals teammates, could make a push. The Dodgers, Giants, and even the Washington Nationals, Soto’s former team, may also explore signing the generational talent.
The Next Steps As the offseason gets underway, the pursuit of Juan Soto is sure to dominate MLB headlines. Fans and pundits alike will be closely monitoring which team can put together the most attractive offer to land one of baseball’s brightest young stars.