For the sake of New York Yankees fans, I hope Juan Soto isn’t already looking to leave as a highly sought-after free agent this offseason. If he is, some members of the New York media may have just pushed him closer to exiting the Bronx.
After the Yankees secured a Game 3 victory over the Kansas City Royals, NJ Advance Media asked Soto about a potential “astronomical” offer from the Toronto Blue Jays. Soto dismissed the speculation, stating he isn’t focused on that while the season is still ongoing and the Yankees aim to reach the World Series for the first time since 2009.
“I don’t know anything about that,” Soto said in the NJ Advance Media piece. “They can’t talk to me now. Let’s see what happens in the offseason.”
And rightly so. The offseason is approaching, but for now, even if he’s thinking about who might pay him the most, performing well could significantly boost his earning potential.
This raises the question: how much could Soto command as an unrestricted free agent? While he may not be pondering it at the moment, it’s intriguing to speculate on the value of his next contract and who will be willing to pay.
In the coming offseason, the New York Yankees will be in a competitive bidding war to keep Soto. Rumors suggest that both the New York Mets and the Blue Jays are preparing to negotiate with him. Both teams have the financial resources to offer what could be the largest contract in MLB history. While Soto doesn’t pitch, he could surpass Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
Tim Britton of The Athletic estimates Soto’s next contract could be around 14 years and $560 million. His teammate Aaron Judge recently signed a nine-year, $360 million deal, while Mike Trout’s 12-year contract was just under $430 million. If the Mets don’t re-sign Pete Alonso, they’ll be looking for an offensive replacement, and even if they do keep him, adding Soto would be a strategic move to challenge the Yankees.
The Blue Jays are also a team to watch, with reports indicating they could make an offer exceeding $600 million.
Whoever wins the bidding for Soto will need to open their wallets wide. The Yankees will do everything possible to keep him alongside Aaron Judge, while the Mets would love to snag one of the Yankees’ top hitters. The Blue Jays could also play a significant role in this pursuit.
We’ll have to wait until at least after the ALCS to see where Soto ultimately lands.
