If you thought the Juan Soto free agency rumors were overwhelming during the New York Yankees' season, just wait for the next few months.
Soto made it clear late Wednesday night, after the Yankees' season ended in Game 5 of the World Series, that he will listen to everyone interested and that “every team has the same opportunities ... we’re gonna look at what they have and how much they want me.”
In the following hours, the first offseason reports and speculation have emerged about his offseason — The New York Post‘s Jon Heyman said that 11 teams have already checked in with agent Scott Boras about Soto, with the New York Mets being one of them, according to the Post’s Mets beat writer, Mike Puma. The Mets’ former general manager, Zack Scott, has also weighed in on X.
I was asked what I thought he’d get. I took the Price is Right approach and said $701m. That will be the headline, but there will be a ton of deferrals. The present value will be $500-600m. I expect top suitors to include NYM, NYY, SF, and the Nats.
Scott, who was with the Mets from 2020-21, told a fan that he expected Soto to sign by Dec. 25 (Christmas), and that the Mets were his pick. Scott doesn‘t necessarily believe the Los Angeles Dodgers are a fit: “I’d be surprised given their commitments.”
The Mets have been seen as a favorite for Soto for the past year because they have $90 million coming off their books and call Steve Cohen their owner, the richest in the game. Teams cannot talk money until five days after the World Series, which concluded Oct. 30.
The San Diego Padres acquired Soto in 2022, as reports surfaced that the outfielder declined a 15-year, $440 million extension with the Washington Nationals. The Yankees traded for Soto last offseason, and despite owner Hal Steinbrenner’s desire to keep Soto for life, the 26-year-old outfielder was never likely to commit to his future without testing the open market.
Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs in the regular season, with a 178 OPS+, the second-highest of his career.
