The best player available in free agency this winter is outfielder Juan Soto. The entire baseball community is eager to see where the 26-year-old will play over the course of the next ten or more years of his career.
Will he sign with the New York Yankees again or play for the New York Mets across town? Would he be able to play for the Boston Red Sox or Toronto Blue Jays in the American League East? How about a contract with the Dodgers of Los Angeles? Despite the fact that both New York teams have long been considered favorites, nobody can predict where Soto will end up.
There has also been much discussion over how much money Soto will receive. The $600 million range has been the typical prediction, while some have gone higher. Buster Olney of ESPN suggested that Soto sign a contract worth $750 million over 15 years. Could it rise much further due to competition from interested teams?
The well-known teams still vying for Soto’s services include the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. Negotiations are “coming to a head” and a resolution may be reached before the Winter Meetings begin on Monday, according to a story published Thursday by Sean McAdam of MassLive. Additionally, he stated that Soto’s agreement might exceed even the most optimistic forecasts.
It is reported that all teams still actively pursuing Juan Soto have offered at least $600 million. However, with growing competition, one source suggested it wouldn’t be surprising if the final winning bid exceeded $700 million and potentially approached $800 million. This deal would break several records, depending on how much of it is deferred. For context, Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year contract from the previous winter included $680 million in deferred payments, bringing the current value to around $460 million.
It will be interesting to observe the actual contract figures and Soto’s long-term official landing spot. Making a choice will also enable the remaining free agents to begin their journey.
