Everything you need to know about Juan Soto’s upcoming free agency

The World Series is still going on. I understand that. But all eyes in baseball are watching Juan Soto and trying to sense his impending free agency.

It’s entirely possible that Soto, 26, will become one of the best free agents in baseball history not named Shohei Ohtani. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if his final contract topped $500 million, and some wouldn’t be surprised if it even topped $600 million. Soto and his agent Scott Boras will control the offseason, and they will have no shortage of teams, especially big-market franchises, to give him his services under one of the richest contracts in baseball.

There are already a lot of rumors about Soto’s impending freedom as an agent. Let’s dive into this and figure out what’s real and what’s not.

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Every report about YankeesThe desire to re-sign Soto is accurate. After all, how could they not want Soto back?

Soto has proven throughout the year that he can thrive in the Bronx. He was one of the best players in baseball and formed arguably the best duo with Aaron Judge. In 157 games in New York, Soto hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs while posting a 178 OPS+, the second-best of his career.

At this point, the Yankees should be considered the early favorites to sign Soto. This is the place he likes. The Yankees love having him play alongside Judge. Last winter they parted ways with a slew of prospects wanting to acquire him from the San Diego Padres. And by keeping Soto, he will keep the Yankees’ World Series window open for years to come.

Besides, this is the New York Yankees. They should never outbid a player they love and want to sign. Losing him as a free agent would be an organizational failure of epic proportions.

However, if the Yankees don’t re-sign Soto, the most realistic option would be for him to resign with the team. New York Mets.

If Steve Cohen wants a player, he’ll get him. His wallets are deeper than any owner in baseball, and he can outbid anyone for their services. It’s that simple. And Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear that he can bid on any player as a free agent.

This means Soto will be a major focus for the Mets and is a real possibility. It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in baseball if Soto’s lottery ended up with the Yankees and Mets.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Dodgers are expected to pursue Soto.

Will I buy this? Yes. I’m just skeptical about how realistic their chances of signing Soto are.

Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers—10 years, $700 million with a $680 million deferment—allows them to remain aggressive in pursuing high-end free agents. Soto is a generational talent, and it’s clear the Dodgers enjoy having elite players on the roster. Soto is friends with several players on the Dodgers roster, as evidenced by his conversation with Ohtani and others at the All-Star Game.

But Soto loves playing in New York, where he is closer to his family in the Dominican Republic. It may be difficult to get Soto to accept a contract with a lot of deferred money, and the contracts of Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts all contain deferred money, which could create an imbalance in the Dodgers locker room.

I fully expect the Dodgers to call Soto. I just don’t think he’ll end up in Los Angeles.

I still think that Philadelphia Phillies Soto should not be discounted in lotteries. Like the Dodgers, I don’t think the Phillies are the most likely destination. But I follow this team for a lot of reasons.

Soto has connections throughout the Phillies organization, having played with Bryce Harper, Tree Turner and Kyle Schwarber. His hitting coach in Washington, Kevin Long, is the hitting coach in Philadelphia and the two have a strong relationship. The Phillies, particularly owner John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski, love star players, and Soto fits that bill.

I think the Phillies are sleepers in the Soto lottery and are an absolutely worth keeping an eye on. After all, last winter they made a lucrative offer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto worth about $300 million. They have the funds for a mega deal. Who said they couldn’t do it again in Soto?