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

Nov. 12: Red Sox join the Soto sweepstakes (report)
In addition to the Yankees, Mets and Blue Jays, the Red Sox are also expected to meet with Soto this week, per a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan (subscription required).

Passan reports that Boston has Soto "at the top of its want list."

The two New York teams, Toronto and the Red Sox all have meetings scheduled with Soto -- the Blue Jays' will be first, according to Passan -- and other teams like the Dodgers and Rays have shown interest.

Passan writes that the Mets and Yankees are still the favorites to land Soto. He expects Soto to sign with a team before the end of the year, and maybe even by the MLB Winter Meetings, which begin on Dec. 9.

Nov. 12: Are the Blue Jays the biggest threat to pry Soto away from New York?
The field of participants in the Soto sweepstakes has narrowed to eight, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman in an article for the New York Post -- the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Blue Jays, Giants, Red Sox and two "mystery" teams. But he suggests that Toronto may be the biggest threat to Soto leaving New York after his lone season with the Yankees.

"The Jays are viewed by industry sources as a viable obstacle to the favored Yankees and Mets, thanks to a well-heeled ownership and strong incentive to improve coming off the abject disappointment of 2024," Heyman writes.

Toronto did, indeed, have a disappointing 2024 campaign, finishing with a 74-88 record and missing the postseason despite boasting stars such as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette on the roster. And it should be noted that the Blue Jays were significant players in the pursuit of Shohei Ohtani last offseason before Ohtani signed a record 10-year, $700 million contract to join the Dodgers.

The Blue Jays have a meeting scheduled with Soto in California this week -- and will be the first team to meet with him, according to a report from ESPN's Jeff Passan (subscription required), before the Red Sox, Mets and Yankees also do so.

Nov. 8: Yanks ready to make their pitch to Soto (report)
As the Mets prepare to meet with Soto next week, the Yankees are getting ready to put their own plan into action to re-sign their superstar slugger.

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has also scheduled a meeting with Soto and is also expected to fly to California in about a week and a half, according to a report from the New York Post on Friday.

Per the report, the Yankees have been assured they will be able to meet with Soto even after the Mets have their sitdown.

The New York rivals are two of the favorites to land Soto, the marquee free agent on the market this winter.

Soto had arguably the best season of his career in 2024 after the Yankees acquired him from the Padres in a blockbuster trade last December. The 26-year-old batted .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, 128 runs scored and a .989 OPS and led New York to the American League pennant.

Nov. 7: Mets set to visit Soto
Mets owner Steve Cohen plans to travel to Southern California next week to meet with Soto and his agent Scott Boras, according to Mike Puma of the New York Post.

This report comes just one day after Boras noted that the 26-year-old Soto will go through a "thorough process" before making a decision. So while New York appears to be one of the first clubs to begin making its push for Soto, it certainly won't be the last to do so in the coming weeks.

Nov. 6: Soto will be 'thorough' in free-agency decision
Soto is the top free agent in this year's class, and he is apparently in no rush to sign his next contract. Soto's agent, Scott Boras, indicated Wednesday that the 26-year-old star wants to go through a "thorough process" before reaching his decision.

"Due to the volume of interest and Juan's desire to hear [from teams], I can't put a timeframe on [when he will sign], but it's going to be a very thorough process for him," Boras said, via ESPN's Jesse Rogers. "He wants to meet people personally. He wants to talk with them. He wants to hear from them."

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman said Wednesday during his chat on Bleacher Report that he thinks Soto could sign during the Winter Meetings, which will take place from Dec. 8-12 in Dallas. Heyman also mentioned six clubs that he thinks are in the running for Soto: the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants and Red Sox. There may also be a small-market "mystery team" in the mix, per Heyman.

However, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand, league executives think the battle to land the four-time All-Star will ultimately come down to the two New York teams.

"It’s the Yankees or the Mets," one American League executive said.

Nov. 6: Did the Dodgers just open up RF for Soto?
Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said at the GM meetings on Wednesday that the club plans to move Mookie Betts back to the infield after he began last season at shortstop but later moved back to right field.

That begs the question: Does this open up right field for a pursuit of Soto? More >

Oct. 31: Report: Soto eyeing record deal; many clubs already showing interest
Soto has been a free agent for less than 24 hours, but a bunch of teams have already been in contact with him, according to MLB Network insider Jon Heyman.

Heyman writes in the New York Post that eight teams checked in with Soto in the hours after he and the Yankees lost to the Dodgers in World Series Game 5 on Wednesday. By Thursday morning, the number of interested clubs was up to 11.

However, it's unclear how many of those teams will meet Soto's asking price. Per Heyman, $700 million -- or more -- is seen as Soto's "new magic number." That would match the total value of Shohei Ohtani's contract with the Dodgers, but much of that money is deferred, lowering the deal's present-day value. Soto, conversely, is looking for a "solid" $700 million, according to Heyman.

The incumbent Yankees are likely to make a strong effort to bring him back, but while Soto said after New York’s season-ending loss that he was happy with the team and the city, he also made it clear he’s not giving the Bronx Bombers an edge over any other potential suitor.

“I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency,” Soto said. "I don't want to say anyone has an advantage, because at the end of the day we're gonna look at what they have and how much they want me."

The Mets and Dodgers could be the Yankees' top competitors for Soto. Heyman adds that the Giants, Blue Jays and Red Sox "are expected to check in, and word, shockingly, is two small-market teams already have."

Oct. 27: Could Soto become teammates with Ohtani in LA?
Soto and the Yankees are currently battling Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers in the World Series. In 2025, could Soto and the presumptive National League MVP return to the Fall Classic as teammates?

MLB Network insider Jon Heyman reports in the New York Post that the Dodgers intend to go after Soto in free agency "if he's interested" in coming to Los Angeles. The Dodgers spent more than $1 billion in free agency last offseason, mostly on Ohtani and World Series Game 2 star Yoshinobu Yamamoto. However, because the large majority of Ohtani's $700 contract is deferred until 2034 and beyond, the Dodgers have the financial flexibility to go after just about anyone on the open market.

However, there is one big caveat: Does Soto want to play again on the West Coast? According to Heyman, "Yankees people" don't think Soto wants to return to Southern California after spending parts of two seasons with the Padres before he was traded to the Yankees in December.

"As for Soto and the Dodgers, a Yankees person had two words: 'Never happen,'" Heyman wrote. "... Many do see the Yankees and Mets holding an edge in the highly anticipated free-agent derby since there was suggestion early in [Soto's] tenure in San Diego that the Dominican star preferred to be on the East Coast, where he started with the Nationals in Washington."

Yet, Heyman also writes that the Padres and Soto were said to be "down the road" toward a long-term contract agreement last year, before Padres owner Peter Seidler passed away.

The Dodgers have been in the market for almost every headline free agent over the past several years. Beyond the players they landed -- Ohtani, Yamamoto, Freddie Freeman, etc., they also tried to sign Bryce Harper prior to the 2019 season and Gerrit Cole the following winter. It sounds like they will at least do their due diligence on this winter's best available player.

Oct. 24: Will it take more than $600 million to sign Soto?
Soto probably isn't focused on his upcoming winter as a free agent right now. On the eve of the 2024 World Series, Soto is preparing to be at his best to help the Yankees capture their 28th World Series title.

But once the Fall Classic is over, Soto will have to turn his attention to what's next. He will be the top available free agent, hitting the market at just 26 years old and on the back of a spectacular season with New York, no matter what happens in the World Series. In short, Soto is going to get paid a lot of money. But just how much? The Athletic's Jim Bowden (subscription required) has made a prediction: $622 million over 15 years.

"Most executives believe he’ll end up somewhere between $550 million and $650 million, which will probably limit his market to both New York teams and possibly the Blue Jays," Bowden wrote. "Other teams such as the Dodgers, Phillies, Rangers and Nationals also could emerge for Soto."

Any number in that range would trail only Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal with the Dodgers from last December in terms of total value. It would also be the longest contract in big league history. If Bowden is spot-on with his prediction, Soto's annual average value of $41.4 million would rank as the fourth-most in MLB history, behind only Ohtani's $70 million and the $43.4 million that pitchers Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander made this year.

But that might still not be enough. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal said on Wednesday that he thinks "Soto's AAV is going to start with a five." In present-day dollars, a $50+ million AAV would surpass Ohtani's contract because the large majority of his money is deferred until 2034 and beyond.

MLB.com's experts agreed last month that the Yankees, Mets, Nationals and Giants are the top contenders for Soto, although MLB Network insider Jon Heyman has reported that the Blue Jays are believed to be a possible suitor as well.