Juan Soto is the top free agent available in 2024 and he’s one of the most coveted players in recent memory due to his age and skill.
Among the teams reportedly making offers to Soto are the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. While the Dodgers are not the favorite to sign Soto, they still remain in the mix for his services.
Despite giving Shohei Ohtani $700 million last winter and already spending $182 million on Blake Snell this offseason, the Dodgers are one of five teams to offer Soto a contract exceeding $600 million.
Soto is expected to sign by the end of the Winter Meetings, so his decision should come within the next week or so. Soto’s agent Scott Boras said that they have already begun the process of eliminating teams from contention, further signifying a decision is closing in.
“When you’re going through these things, he’s just got a lot of information to meld through,” Boras said. “We’ve had meetings with a number of franchises. He’s begun the process of eliminating teams and doing things. Juan is a very methodical thinker, so we’ll see. But don’t think anything is imminent in the near future.”
The Dodgers have a big need for outfielders after Teoscar Hernández became a free agent. Tommy Edman is the only option that can comfortably be penciled in as starter.
Andy Pages and James Outman are other options within the organization. Pages showed promise as a rookie, but it remains to be seen if he’s ready to assume a full-time starting role while Outman was sent back down to the Minors last season due to his continued struggles.
The Dodgers have been linked to Hernández and Soto this offseason, but re-signing Hernández is ultimately the more realistic conclusion.
The New York teams seem to be favored in the Soto negotiations, and many feel that’s where he’ll ultimately end up.
Juan Soto wants ‘strong rapport’ with team owner
With this upcoming decision potentially being the last contract he ever signs, Soto reportedly has an interest in choosing an organization with ownership that he has confidence in.
This would give the Dodgers an advantage, but there are other factors that will also influence Soto’s decision. Soto has reportedly preferred to stay on the East Coast, and there is some belief he may ultimately end up with the highest bidder.
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