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

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.

Oct. 16: Who will be Yankees’ biggest competition for Soto?
On a Hall of Fame track through his age-25 campaign, Soto is expected to sign one of the largest free-agent contracts in MLB history this offseason.

Soto lived up to the hype in his first season with the Yankees after being acquired from the Padres in an offseason trade, slashing .285/.419/.569 (178 OPS+) with 41 homers, 109 RBIs, 128 runs and 129 walks.

The Yankees’ offseason will center around re-signing the superstar outfielder so they can keep the dynamic duo of Soto and Aaron Judge together for years to come, but they’ll face strong competition on the open market. MLB Network insider Jon Heyman talked to one Yankees higher-up who guessed that the Bronx Bombers' biggest competition will come from the Mets, Giants and Blue Jays.

Per Heyman, both San Francisco and Toronto engaged in trade talks with San Diego for Soto before he was dealt to New York. The two clubs were also involved in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes but came up short there as well, as Ohtani ended up with the Dodgers. The Blue Jays and Giants are both in desperate need of a big splash this offseason after missing the playoffs in 2024.

The Mets, meanwhile, took a measured approach in free agency last offseason but are expected to be more aggressive this year as they look to build on their surprising 2024 success. Owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets could make the Mets the biggest threat to outbid the Bronx Bombers for Soto, especially when they have a lot of money coming off the books and will see a key bat of their own -- first baseman Pete Alonso -- reach free agency as well.

Given his age, Soto’s new deal is likely going to surpass the contract Judge signed with the Yankees after the 2022 season, both in total value ($360 million) and average annual value ($40 million). However, Heyman heard from a person familiar with the team’s thinking that Judge’s AAV will not serve as a hard cap for their offer to Soto.