Multiple reports suggest that Juan Soto could make his free-agency decision at any point this weekend before the Winter Meetings officially get underway on Monday.
For a piece published Friday, four MLB insiders offered final predictions regarding which team will win the Soto sweepstakes. The New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers are seemingly still in the hunt.
“I expect Soto’s decision to come down to the Yankees and the Mets,” Jorge Castillo wrote, “but it sounds like Steve Cohen, the wealthiest owner in baseball, is dead set on signing him and will top any offer. That, in my estimation, makes [the Mets] the favorite.”
While some have questioned if Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner is willing to outbid other would-be buyers for Soto, Cohen reportedly is “willing to go $50M over whatever anybody offers” to bring the All-Star outfielder to the Mets. Perhaps that’s why Kiley McDaniel had it at “55% Mets, 35% Yankees and 10% other” for where Soto lands.
“The belief around the league is that the Mets won’t let money be the reason for not landing Soto,” McDaniel explained, “but the Yankees very well could. The Yankees got [captain Aaron Judge] to return by basically matching or coming very close to matching other offers, but it’s unclear what the Yankees will do if the Mets blow their offer out of the water.”
According to reports, the Red Sox and Blue Jays have been prepared to battle Cohen in the war for Soto’s signature. If the 26-year-old has changed his mind about having deferred money attached to his deal, the Dodgers could have an advantage, considering they’re the reigning World Series champions and already have $1B in deferred money owed to seven players through 2046.
“The vast majority of top free agents do not return to the same team, and remember that Judge probably took a slight discount to stay in New York. I don’t think Soto will do that, so my confidence level is low,” David Schoenfield wrote about Soto possibly returning to the Yankees.
Reporters, analysts and executives have repeatedly named the Mets the favorites to sign Soto since he and the Yankees lost the World Series to the Dodgers. At this point, Cohen may need to realize his customers could be shocked if he somehow loses the slugger to any other club.
“Soto’s first season in the Bronx could not have gone any better (except for maybe that fifth inning),” Alden Gonzalez added. “The Yankees are one of the biggest brands in sports, in an environment he clearly loves playing in and a team that would make him absurdly wealthy. I’ll believe the Mets are stealing him from the Yankees when I see it.”
