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Juan Soto is the biggest name of the 2024-25 MLB offseason and his dance card is filling out accordingly. Every one of the league’s biggest spenders is reportedly on the hunt for a free agent slugger fresh off another All-Star season in his only year with the New York Yankees.
Soto is expected to fight for a contract worth between the stated value of Shohei Ohtani’s record deal ($700 million) and the actual value of the contract when adjusted for inflation and deferrals (around $440 million). It’s going to be a titanic role, the only question is which team will appear there.
That’s why people are very interested in Soto’s schedule for this week. By ESPN’s Jeff PassanFour teams meet with Soto and mega-agent Scott Boras, although that probably doesn’t mean the other 26 teams are out of the running.
Let’s take a look at each of those four teams, what they bring to the table for Soto, and how seriously we’re taking them as candidates for his services.
Toronto Blue Jays
Serious meter: 3/5
Let’s go back to about a year ago, when the Blue Jays appeared to be on the verge of landing Ohtani. Countless MLB fans were following a flight tracker that supposedly contained the Japanese superstar like it was the lunar module, and it all ended up being a slightly embarrassing lesson in scrutinizing reporting in a high-stakes media environment.
Still, it was never in question that the Blue Jays were willing to pay Ohtani’s price. He just liked what the Dodgers brought to the table better. And now, Toronto has a chance to land another superstar.
It’s easy to forget that the Blue Jays are a big-market team, but they are. They have money and many reasons to spend a lot right now. The team took a step back this year after four consecutive competitive seasons and will try to win again in 2025, which is shaping up to be a decisive year.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is a free agent after next season, and the best way to make this year count would be to add another elite bat. Soto is also a good friend of Guerrero, whom the Blue Jays will want to keep as happy as possible.
New York Mets
Serious meter: 5/5
There’s a good chance the bidding war for Soto will come down to who’s most willing to spend stupid money. The Mets would have the advantage there.
Mets owner Steve Cohen, the richest owner in baseball, has made it abundantly clear that he is willing to ignore all rational business sense if it will turn his childhood team into a World Series winner. Because of that, the Mets have been loudly rumored for years as a possible destination for Soto.
The Mets are still in the process of building a powerhouse in the National League and adding the best young hitter in baseball, while moving him away from their crosstown rival in the process, would be a huge help. The fit here is so clear it’s almost boring, at least until we see the final price.
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New York Yankees
serious meter 5/5
You can probably bet that the Yankees won’t make it easy for Soto. Allowing Soto to leave would do notable damage to the team’s credibility going forward.
Last year’s trade for Soto went as well as the Yankees could have hoped. He enjoyed another elite season at the plate, hitting .288/.419/.569 and ranking third in MLB in OPS+, and seemed to have fun doing it. He was a vital part of New York’s first run to the World Series since 2009.
Replacing Soto, even altogether, would be notoriously difficult. Losing him would mean the Yankees would have to look to several other premium free agents, such as Pete Alonso and Teoscar Hernández, to avoid a significant drop in the roster.
When baseball’s premier franchise has the most to lose in a free agent bidding war, it’s hard not to expect it to come out ahead. We saw this two years ago and the result was Aaron Judge’s nine-year, $360 million contract. This one will certainly be more expensive.
Boston Red Sox
Serious meter: 3/5
This is a pretty interesting option for a team that hasn’t made the playoffs in three seasons.
The Red Sox still have plenty of talent, most notably 2024 breakout star Jarren Duran and franchise stalwart Rafael Devers. They have an enviable collection of minor league talent coming up with four of MLB Pipeline’s top 25 prospects. They do not lack financial resources as one of the most popular teams in the MLB.
And, like the Mets, they could greatly undercut the Yankees by just signing one player. Signing Soto will likely require convincing him that the team’s next competitive era is right around the corner, but that argument seems simple.
It’s also worth noting that, for park factor, Fenway Park is the equivalent of Coors Field for left-handed hitters like Soto.
So those are the four teams with reported Soto meetings. Let’s also take a brief look at the other three teams listed by Jon Heyman of the New York Post as contenders for Soto, with a note that they could still schedule a meeting with him.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Serious meter: 3.5/5
Do you want to know what’s scary about the Dodgers? They can afford Soto.
It wouldn’t require much stretching. They are currently enjoying the financial fruits of winning a World Series, after a year of unprecedented sponsorship by Japanese companies looking to link up with Ohtani. Ohtani’s contract could already be the biggest bargain in baseball given his postponements, and that means the Dodgers can go for something big again if they want.
Although they feel like a rising titan, the Dodgers did not have the largest payroll in MLB last season. They placed third, behind the Mets and the Yankees. This would be a very fun way to become first.
Still, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman once said, “If you’re always rational with every free agent, you’ll finish third with every free agent.” The Dodgers might be fine with being the rational one here, especially if it means raising the price for the Mets and Yankees.
San Francisco Giants
Serious meter: 2/5
Like the Blue Jays with Ohtani, it’s helpful to remember that the Giants were there for Judge two years ago. This is a team that was recently handed full control of the very lucrative Bay Area, with new leadership headed by Buster Posey.
The Giants are still missing a superstar to build their team, and Soto would definitely fit the bill.
Tampa Bay Lightning
Serious meter: 1/5
Even Heyman seemed surprised when one of the poorest teams in MLB was mentioned as a suitor for Soto, but let’s take a serious look at the Rays. Yes, the Rays are notoriously reluctant to spend, but reportedly Freddie Freeman, MVP of the 2024 World Series, offered him more money than anyone. They are also regularly competitive and just got out of Wander Franco’s $182 million contract.
On the other hand, come on. They might have been willing to pay Freeman around $25 million per year, but Soto could receive double that per year. This is also a team about to play a full season in a minor league stadium after Hurricane Milton destroyed Tropicana Field, which won’t be an easy sell for Soto or help the team’s finances.