Yankees have 'good meeting' with Soto in California

MLB.com is keeping track of the latest news and rumors surrounding Juan Soto.

Nov. 20: Soto has 'good meeting' with Yankees
The Yankees met with Soto on Monday in California, and team owner Hal Steinbrenner confirmed Wednesday that it was a "good meeting" with "very honest back-and-forth dialogue."

Steinbrenner said that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, manager Aaron Boone, president Randy Levine, and special assistant to the GM Omar Minaya were all in attendance during Monday's meeting. But he didn't divulge any part of the team's pitch to Soto or say if any offers were made during the meeting.

"It's been a priority," Steinbrenner said about signing Soto. "We wouldn't have gone out to the West Coast if it wasn't. ... We'll be in the mix. I'll leave it at that."

As of Wednesday, Soto has had in-person meetings with the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Blue Jays. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported Tuesday that Soto will also meet with the Phillies at some point. Soto also plans to sit down with the Dodgers this week, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand.

Steinbrenner said he has "no idea" if the Yankees will meet with Soto again or if he's confident that the club can re-sign the 26-year-old superstar. But he added, "[W]e've got the ability to sign any player we want to sign."

Nov. 19: Phillies plan to meet with Soto (report)
Yet another team has emerged as a potential suitor for Soto: the Philadelphia Phillies. According to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman, the Phils plan to meet with Soto at some point, though nothing has been scheduled yet.

Soto reportedly has already met with the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Mets and incumbent Yankees and is scheduled to meet with the Dodgers next. Per Heyman, it's believed that no offers have been made to Soto yet.

The Phillies already have one of the most complete rosters of any MLB team, but they are looking for ways to improve after failing to advance past the National League Division Series in 2024.

Phillies ownership has shown a willingness to pay up for some of the top free agents on the market, with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, Aaron Nola, Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber all signing lucrative deals with Philadelphia in free agency.

Phillies managing partner and CEO John Middleton was candid in addressing Soto's market earlier this month, saying that he believes the outfielder wants to be in New York but adding that Philadelphia could get involved in the bidding anyway as a "stalking horse."

Nov. 18: Cohen to best any Soto offer by $50 million (report)
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay said on his radio program on Monday that according to a source, Mets owner Steve Cohen is willing to beat any other club's offer to Soto by $50 million.

"I'll put it this way," Kay said. "And I don't think this is something Yankees fans are going to want to hear. I don't think the Yankees are going to go [up to $700 million]. I don't. And then I've heard from somebody in baseball today that Cohen is willing to go $50 million over whatever anybody offers. So it looks like the Mets really want to get this guy."

Nov. 18: Dodgers expected to meet with Soto this week
Soto's decision on where to sign this offseason is the most anticipated in baseball, and according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, "the feeling around the industry" is that the decision could be made before the annual Winter Meetings get underway in Dallas on Dec. 9.

Feinsand also writes that the Dodgers are expected to be the next team to meet with Soto, with plans to sit down with the superstar slugger sometime this week and perhaps as early as Tuesday. More >

Nov. 18: Yanks meet with Soto (report)
MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports in an article for the New York Post that the Yankees met with superstar slugger Juan Soto in Southern California on Monday as they look to retain him after he helped lead them to the World Series. More >

Nov 16: Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets have met with Soto (reports)
The Red Sox met with Soto and his representatives, including agent Scott Boras, in Southern California on Thursday night, according to a report from Sean McAdam of MassLive. It appears they aren't the only club that has chatted with the 26-year-old superstar.

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reported Saturday morning that the Blue Jays, along with Boston, have made "impressive in-person presentations" to Soto. Heyman later added another team to the list, reporting that the Mets met with Soto on Saturday. He noted that "all early signs suggest the meeting went extremely well," and that owner Steve Cohen and other "high-ranking Mets officials" made the trip.

The Red Sox's meeting with Soto, which was of an introductory and informative nature, per McAdam, lasted for three hours and was deemed as “productive,” though neither money nor terms were discussed between the parties.

Soto was reportedly “impressed” by Boston’s presentation, which included a video noting the franchise’s history of star players from the Dominican Republic, Soto’s native country. The Red Sox also detailed their plans for the future, highlighting a promising group of prospects who could potentially team up with Soto to help the club be successful in the years to come.

Heyman reports that Soto is scheduled to meet with a fourth team, the Yankees, on Monday in California.