Are these 2 teams the most likely landing spots for Soto?
MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Juan Soto.
Nov. 30: Mets and Red Sox appear to be most likely landing spots for Soto (report)
According to NJ.com Yankees reporter Randy Miller in an appearance on New York’s WFAN Radio on Saturday, the Red Sox and Mets are the most likely landing spots for Soto, with the Blue Jays “all in” on the superstar slugger and the Yankees likely to “finish fourth” in the Soto sweepstakes.
“I think it’s going to come down to the Red Sox and Mets,” Miller said. “From what I’m hearing, Big Papi [former Red Sox great David Ortiz] is playing a role in this and recruiting Soto hard. I heard [Soto] was very impressed with the Red Sox and the Red Sox are telling Soto that they’re going to bring in a couple of extra players in addition to him. … I think the Yankees, from what I hear, clearly they value him, but … I don’t think the Yankees will go $600 million. I’m hearing the Yankees will probably top out in the $550 million range.”
Nov. 27: Yankees increase offer to Soto (report)
The Soto sweepstakes appear to be entering the next round, with the Yankees upping their initial offer in recent days, per a report from MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.
While Heyman wrote for the New York Post that the Yanks have also touched base with Corbin Burnes and Max Fried — as well as some of the other top free agents — he said New York has not yet extended an offer to either player.
Instead, the Yankees’ main focus for the time being remains on bringing back Soto.
Though it’s unclear exactly what New York’s latest offer is — or what the original numbers were — the club has reportedly told Soto it is willing to include opt-outs in a potential contract. There will likely be other teams also willing to extend that luxury, with the Mets, Dodgers, Red Sox and Blue Jays remaining the most likely landing spots for Soto if he elects to leave the Bronx.
Nov. 26: Soto’s decision coming before the Winter Meetings?
The 2024 Winter Meetings in Dallas begin on Dec. 9. An annual highlight on MLB’s offseason calendar, there is usually a flurry of player movement during the four-day event. Some of the best free agents agree to their next contract during the Winter Meetings.
But the best free agent this year might agree to his deal before the Meetings begin. A source told Sean McAdam of MassLive.com that there is a “very good” chance Soto selects his next team even before the start of the Winter Meetings. This jibes with what MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reported recently; he wrote that “the feeling around the industry” is Soto could make his decision before Dec. 9.
Five teams have already made an offer to Soto, a source told MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi: the Mets, Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees and Blue Jays. However, those are not believed to be final offers as Morosi clarified Tuesday.
Morosi said he thinks there is a “real possibility” that a Soto signing comes in the early days of the Meetings. If it comes on that first day, it would be the same date (Dec. 9) that Shohei Ohtani made public his decision to sign with the Dodgers last year, although that came after the Meetings concluded.
Nov. 26: Red Sox ‘stepping up efforts’ to sign Soto (report)
The Red Sox are one of the five teams that have made a contract offer to Soto, a source told MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. No one knows the value of that offer, but it shouldn’t be taken lightly as Boston is reportedly “stepping up efforts” to land the offseason’s No. 1 free agent. More >
Nov. 26: Five teams submit offers to Soto (source)
To this point, Soto’s free agency has been about meeting with teams and hearing their general pitches — but that has changed according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi, who reports that five teams have submitted contract offers to the 26-year-old superstar: the Red Sox, Dodgers, Mets, Yankees and Blue Jays. ESPN’s Buster Olney reported over the weekend that contract offers were expected to begin rolling in this week.
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