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Previously, it was mentioned that Juan Soto would finalize his free-agency decision by the end of the upcoming MLB winter meetings scheduled to begin next Monday.
However, fans may not have to wait that long to find out where Soto will be playing his home games in 2025.
“The plan is to have meetings over the weekend, and it is expected that Juan Soto will make his decision by then, and we should know by the start of the winter meetings in Dallas,” ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan shared during a “SportsCenter” segment as reported by Kaley Brown of Boston.com.
Passan mentioned that the favorites in the Juan Soto sweepstakes are unknown. The All-Star outfielder has been linked with a return to the New York Yankees, as well as the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal for Soto is estimated to be between $600M-$700M, potentially exceeding $700M if bidding continues through the weekend.
Recent updates indicated that the Red Sox and Blue Jays were ready to outbid other teams for Soto. Nevertheless, The Athletic reported that the Mets are considered the frontrunners for Soto, with many believing that the team’s owner, Steve Cohen, will surpass any rival bid.
Cohen is reportedly willing to go $50M over any other offer to secure Soto’s signature.
“If teams are willing to go up to, let’s say, 15 years, which might be possible given Juan Soto’s age of 26, we could see a deal exceeding $700M,” Passan remarked. “Remember, Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700M deal last offseason set the precedent.”
Ohtani’s deal with the Dodgers was worth $700M over 10 years but included $680M in deferred payments, which Soto is not interested in.
“Teams engaged in a third round of bidding for Soto this week, and although a deal isn’t imminent, one could come together before the winter meetings officially kick off on Monday,” Passan stated in an ESPN article. “Wherever he signs, the contract is expected to set new records in length and potentially overall value.”
Meanwhile, Buster Olney mentioned in the same article that it’s not impossible for Soto’s deal to reach around $750M over 15 years.
“These situations can change quickly, but it seems like Soto could make MLB contract history before the next workweek begins,” Olney added.
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