Inside the Soto sweepstakes: December decision? And a mystery club?
Mark Feinsand
@feinsandThe Juan Soto sweepstakes are in full swing, and while no conclusion is expected before Thanksgiving, the feeling around the industry is that the slugger could make his decision prior to the Winter Meetings, which get underway on Dec. 9 in Dallas.
Having already met with the Blue Jays, Red Sox and Mets, Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, sat down with the Yankees on Monday at an undisclosed location near Boras’ offices in Newport Beach, Calif.
According to sources, the Dodgers will be the next team to sit down with Soto, holding their meeting with him early this week, possibly as soon as Tuesday.
“We all know that Boras has a reputation for dragging free agency along at a snail’s pace,” a National League executive said. “But when he has someone like Soto, that doesn’t usually happen. I’d be surprised if he hasn’t signed by the time we leave Dallas [when the meetings conclude on Dec. 12].”
Look no further than five years ago, when Boras represented Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Anthony Rendon in the same offseason; all three players signed during the Winter Meetings that December, totaling $814 million in contracts.
All of Soto’s meetings have included representatives from club ownership, along with front-office executives and the team’s manager, sources said. Convincing Soto that their team represents his best landing spot is about more than money; according to Sean McAdam of MassLive, Soto asked the Red Sox about the club’s commitment to winning, its ballpark and facilities, and its process of evaluating players.
“He’s going to commit to a team for at least a decade, so that’s not surprising,” an American League executive said. “Even if there’s an opt-out in the contract, you’re probably looking at the next four or five years. He’s going to get paid no matter where he goes, so if he can feel good about his chances of winning, that’s going to make a big difference.”
Soto’s meeting with the Mets included owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza, while the Red Sox sent chairman Tom Werner, president Sam Kennedy, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow and manager Alex Cora to help make their pitch.
It’s unclear exactly who attended the meeting on behalf of the Blue Jays, though Toronto’s meeting with Shohei Ohtani last year included chairman Edward Rogers, president Mark Shapiro, general manager Ross Atkins and manager John Schneider.
The Yankees sent a contingent that included owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone, though Soto is obviously well-acquainted with the entire organization after spending the past season in the Bronx.
One source said Soto had spoken with at least one other team besides those that have been reported, thrusting the good ol’ mystery club into the equation.
According to sources, other teams that could meet with Soto include the Giants, Phillies and Rays. Tampa Bay would appear to be a long shot, particularly now that the club will be playing home games in 2025 at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Fla., following the damage to the Tropicana Field roof sustained last month during Hurricane Milton.
Soto is expected to command a deal worth well north of $500 million, possibly even higher than $600 million depending on the length of the deal.
The Mets and Yankees have long been considered the favorites to sign Soto, who seemed to enjoy his experience living in New York last season.
Including Soto’s $31 million salary from 2024, the Yankees have roughly $80 million coming off the payroll this offseason. The Mets have even more coming off the books, including all of the dead money from the contracts of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer, totaling more than $180 million.
“It’s the Yankees or the Mets,” one American League executive said recently when asked to handicap the Soto sweepstakes. “He knows the Yankees well after spending a year there, and Steve Cohen has enough money to give him whatever he wants if he decides he wants him badly enough. It’s tough for me to see Soto winding up anywhere else.”