Here’s the latest news and buzz around Juan Soto‘s free agency…
November 18, 7:39 PM
Next up in the Soto sweepstakes are the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will hold their meeting with the outfielder and his agent Scott Boras early this week, possibly as early as Tuesday, reports Mark Feinsand of MLB.
The Dodgers, who don’t have far to travel, will follow both the Mets and Yankees, who met Soto in Los Angeles on Sunday and Monday, respectively.
Los Angeles becomes the fifth team to sit down with free agent Soto. That list also includes the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox and is sure to grow with teams like the San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies and Tampa Bay Rays also in the mix, Feinsand said.
While the lottery for the superstar is far from over, Feinsand reports that “the feeling in the industry is that the slugger could make his decision before the Winter Meetings, which start on December 9 in Dallas.”
November 18, 9:02 am
According to multiple reports, the Yankees will make their pitch to Soto and his camp in California on Monday.
Their meeting with Soto comes two days after he met with a Mets contingent, including the owner Steve Cohen and president of baseball operations David Sterns.
Soto also met with the Red Sox and Blue Jays last week.
It’s unclear if the Yankees’ meeting with Soto will be the last in-person powwow he’ll have before negotiations for his services heat up.
SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino recently reported that there could be a resolution with Soto before or around the MLB Winter Meetings, which begin on December 9.
Soto, who recently turned 26, is expected to sign a deal that could last as long as 14 years and be worth more than $600 million.
November 16, 11:06 am
A day after Boston Red Sox representatives reportedly held a “productive” meeting with the free agent, some new details emerged about the three-hour meeting.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reports this that he hears that the owners of the Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have given “impressive personal presentations” to Soto.
Heyman noted that there are still “several team owners” who have yet to make their pitch for the coveted 26-year-old outfielder and that they will have the opportunity to do so in the coming days.
Toronto’s meeting with Soto — as first reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan — took place this week in California. The Mets and Yankees have yet to meet with Soto.
November 15, 8:46 am
The Red Sox had a “productive,” three-hour meeting with Soto and his representatives in California on Thursday, MassLive’s Sean McAdam reports.
According to MassLive, the Boston contingent at the meeting included the president Sam Kennedychair Tom Wernerchief baseball officer Craig Breslowand administrator Alex Kora.
During the meeting, the Red Sox showed a video showcasing their “history of star players from the Dominican Republic” and discussing their plans for the future – including their highly regarded farm system.
According to MassLive, Soto inquired about “the team’s commitment to winning, player evaluation methods and Fenway Park and its facilities.”
Because the meeting was an introductory session, no formal offer was made, according to MassLive.
The Red Sox are in the midst of a downturn, with their last winning season coming in 2021. They finished in last place in the AL East in 2022 and 2023, and went 81-81 in 2024, finishing in third place – behind the Yankees and Orioles.
Boston’s future salary situation is strong, with the team having just over $90 million on the books through 2026 – theoretically giving them the flexibility to make a huge offer to Soto.
November 14, 12:07 PM
Former Met Carlos Beltranwho is now a special assistant to the president of baseball operations David Sternsrecently discussed Soto’s chase through New York.
“The Mets want to improve the team and there is no doubt they will go after any player on the open market, knowing that the piece everyone wants is Juan Sotoand the Mets do not rule out going after him with full force,” Beltran told Primera Hora’s Joseph Reboyras in Spanish.
Beltran also spoke of the owner’s dedication and seriousness Steve Cohenand how that could affect the Soto sweepstakes.
“The owner of the Mets is one of the richest players in the game and he wants to win,” Beltran said. “When he tells the press he wants to win, he’s not saying it to get the fan excited and get to the ballpark. It’s really a personal thing for him and I was able to experience it this year while I was with the team. “
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor traveled to Los Angeles earlier this week. When contacted, he would not confirm or deny whether he was there to attend the Mets’ planned meeting with Soto, who is in California meeting with interested clubs.
Beltran discussed the importance of having a player like Lindor potentially help recruit Soto.
“That’s always important. I think as a free agent player, knowing what Lindor did last year and what you know he can do, there’s no doubt that you want to associate or share your career with players like Lindor.” Beltran said. “I know that’s an influence and I know Soto will probably take that into account. He’s already experienced Judge. Now he has the chance to at least listen to Lindor.’
November 13, 9:12 am
The Giants are expected to be among the top suitors for Soto, but according to The Athletic’s Jayson Stark, they have not yet finalized a deal with him.
According to multiple reports, Soto will begin holding meetings in California this week.
The Blue Jays, Red Sox, Mets and Yankees have scheduled meetings this week, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan.
As for the Giants, they have tried (and failed) to lure major free agents to San Francisco in recent years.
They were busy Shohei Ohtani last offseason before signing with the Dodgers, and which he was deep in discussions with Aaron Judge a few seasons ago before re-signing with the Yankees.
Although the Giants have been linked to Soto, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly reported last week that their offseason “is expected to be marked by austerity measures.” That doesn’t seem like an all-out pursuit of Soto, who could get a contract worth $600 million or more.
November 12, 9:40 am
While the Dodgers are interested in Soto, it seems unlikely they will be serious players for his services.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the Dodgers “will not pursue Soto,” adding that they would be “happy to consider him” if his market softens.
A weakening of the market for Soto is highly unlikely as the 26-year-old is heavily pursued by most of the sport’s biggest spending clubs.
The Dodgers have the resources to sign any player, but their long-term salary obligations (up to… Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Bettsand others) and current needs (starting pitching) make them a questionable fit for Soto.
It has also been reported that Soto has a strong East Coast bias, which could bode well for the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox.
Per Passan, the aforementioned three teams and the Blue Jays have scheduled meetings with Soto this week.
Passan notes that Soto could sign before the Winter Meetings begin on December 9.
November 6, 10:40 PM
The Juan Soto sweepstakes continues and the teams vying for his services are reportedly becoming clearer.
According to The Post’s Jon Heyman, the Tampa Bay Rays are among seven known teams to have checked on Soto. The 80-82 club joins the Yankees, Mets, Giants, Blue Jays, Dodgers and Red Sox in looking to land the outfielder.
There are at least four other mystery teams that have contacted Soto’s camp, bringing the total to eleven.
SNY’s Andy Martino reported Wednesday that there is a sense that Soto “enjoyed the Yankee experience and will return if the team makes what he considers a fair offer.” What that number is is still unknown.
As for the Mets, Martino said he has the “impression that the Mets are willing to be very aggressive financially” in their efforts to acquire Soto.
October 31, 9:23 PM
Although MLB free agency is still days away, teams have already begun courting Soto just hours after the Yankees’ season ended in Game 5 of the World Series.
Up to 11 teams have signed on for the star outfielder, and the number that could sign him is $700 million, reports Jon Heyman of the NY Post. Teams can’t talk about money until five days after the end of the World Series.
One of the eleven teams reported is apparently the Mets.
According to Mike Puma of The Post, the Mets are interested in acquiring Soto via free agency. It doesn’t come as a surprise since a lot of money comes from contracts Max Scherzer And Justin Verlander coming off the books this offseason.
‘We have financial flexibility,’ president of baseball operations David Sterns said Wednesday at Citi Field during his season-ending news conference. “It means that virtually the entire player universe is potentially accessible to us. That’s a huge opportunity. I imagine we will take advantage of that opportunity and be aggressive in certain areas.”
Soto said after Game 5 that he wants to go to a winning team, but won’t close the door on any organization and that “every team has the same opportunities.”
