Juan Soto has dominated the first few weeks of the MLB season, and he deserves to do so. With the exception of Shohei Ohtani, he is the most sought-after free agent since Alex Rodríguez more than two decades ago.
Like A-Rod, Soto made his debut as a teenager. So he enters the open market after just turning 26 years old. That alone makes him a unicorn. Plus, he’s had one of the best starts to a career ever.
Among players who had played at least 500 games before turning 26, Soto has the third-highest on-base percentage (.421), is tied for the fifth-most home runs (201), and has the seventh-highest OPS (.421 ). 953). He is on his way to becoming a generational talent and this level of player rotation is completely intoxicating.
Below is everything you need to know about Soto’s market and where he might end up.
What kind of contract does Juan Soto get?
Soto will break the proverbial bank this winter. Aaron Judge has the highest average annual value for a position player at $40 million. That feels like a poor starting point for Soto.
There was a lot of fuss about Ohtani’s $700 million deal last season, but with all the delays, its current value in ten years came to about $460 million.
These two deals will be the benchmark for Soto’s contract. The question is whether he and his agent Scott Boras are determined to defeat public perception of Ohtani’s $700 million figure. That’s more possible than it seems considering Soto is so young and a team could be willing to offer him an unprecedented contract of around fifteen years.
Let’s say 15 years at $45 million per year. That total value would come to a staggering $675 million. That feels a bit rich. However, it is difficult to predict competition from rivals in an open market, nor to predict what delays might be applied. This whole situation could easily spiral out of control and the final dollar figure could be staggering.
2024 MLB Free Agency Tracker: Top Players, Newest Acquisitions, Biggest Contracts, Best Available, Grades
Where will Juan Soto, Pete Alonso and Corbin Burnes sign this offseason?
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Who has Juan Soto met so far?
Soto made it clear he would be willing to do so meet “every team” just moments after the World Series ended. That should have made it extra clear to the Yankees that there really would be no frontrunner in this race. Let’s see who has met him so far.
– New York Mets
The Mets have emerged as the de facto front-runners to sign Soto, thanks in large part to Steve Cohen’s deep pockets. Their payroll costs have been at or above $300 million for the past three years, rising to $375 million in 2023 after the Mets’ last playoff berth.
Cohen had the highest offer on the table for Yoshinobu Yamamoto last season before the Dodgers matched it and signed the Japanese star. He already is flew west to meet Soto in person and there is little doubt that he will once again outbid the competition. That might be all it takes to lure Soto across town.
– New York Yankees
The Yankees likely have the inside track after Soto spent the past year with them and reached the World Series with them. He seemed to enjoy being Yankee and Aaron Judge’s teammate. These two were easily the best attacking duo in the league, which is a great selling point.
He clearly is rejected their qualifying offer and reportedly needed guarantees that the organization would continue to add to their roster. Hal Steinbrenner said their first meeting went well and his did Yankees were “in the mix” for Soto.
– Los Angeles Dodgers
Nobody wants to see this. It would be like Kevin Durant for the Warriors again. Still the Dodgers have had an official meeting with Soto and have about $70 million in cap space under the final Competitive Balance Tax Threshold, with gaping holes in the corner outfield, middle infield and in their rotation. Let’s not spend all your money in one place, Dodgers.
– Boston RedSox
Perhaps the Red Sox learned their lesson after letting Mookie Betts walk out the door and don’t want to let another generational talent slip through their grasp without a fight – possibly to their biggest rival. They have an elite farming system, enough money to make a serious offer, and brought one of them first meetings with Soto. They should be considered a realistic destination.
– Toronto blue jays
Oddly enough, it was reported that the Toronto Blue Jays took one of the first meetings with Soto. They’ve targeted every high-profile free agent in recent years, despite being “considered” by most of them. With deep pockets and a hint of desperation, the Blue Jays could find themselves in this race until the bitter end.
Who are the other potential candidates for Juan Soto?
– Philadelphia Phillies
Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that Soto likes the Phillies, although it is unclear whether their planned meeting has yet taken place. Regardless, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski doesn’t like losing and has been open about his willingness to shake up this roster and spend money after they were embarrassed by the Mets in the NLDS.
– San Francisco giants
Aaron Judge left the Giants at the altar two seasons ago and they are another team that has been involved with many big free agents without ever getting over the hump. Soto would be a serious boost for Buster Posey in his first year as President of Baseball Operations, but she reportedly did not convene a meeting yet.
– Chicago Cubs
There is no indication that the Cubs are involved in the Soto Sweepstakes and that should seriously disappoint their fans. They spent the same thing percentage of their turnover on payroll like the Marlins and Mariners last season. That’s not where this franchise should be if they are serious about competing for a championship.
– Kansas City Royals
Jon Heyman reported on Friday, November 22 that the Royals checked in on Soto this offseason, but unsurprisingly it’s not considered a “financial fit.” Can’t blame a team on the rise for trying?
– The Tampa Bay Rays, apparently
Jon Heyman reported a few weeks ago that the Rays contacted Soto’s representatives, which immediately elicited giggles from the baseball crowd. They shouldn’t be considered a serious suitor, and with concerns about the roof of Tropicana Field and their new stadium possibly not working out, they have much bigger problems right now.
