Juan Soto Rumors: MLB Insider Provides Unfortunate Update on Dodgers' Chances
12/02/2024 02:04 PM
Every offseason, the free agent market is loaded with some of the best players in baseball. At the top of every free agent ranking this offseason is 26-year-old outfielder Juan Soto.
His age, skillset, and postseason dominance have grabbed the attention of several teams, including the reigning World Series champions. The Dodgers have expressed interest in Soto and have a history of acquiring the top talent in the offseason.
However, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today does not view the Dodgers as contenders for the four-time MLB All-Star. Instead, Nightengale links Soto to the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, or Boston Red Sox as realistic landing spots.
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After a season-and-a-half with the San Diego Padres, the franchise traded Soto to the Yankees. He spent the entirety of last season with New York, finishing as the World Series runner-ups to the Dodgers.
This season, Soto ranked in the top five of the American League for runs (128), home runs (41), on-base percentage (.419), slugging percentage (.569), OPS (.988), plate appearances (713), and RBIs (109). He also earned the fifth Silver Slugger award of his seven-season career. Soto is expected to command a lucrative multi-year contract, potentially in the $700 million range.
Nightengale added that the Dodgers met with Soto and his agent. Although Nightengale does not think Los Angeles will get Soto, the meeting may still affect the free agent market.
"The Los Angeles Dodgers just won a World Series without Soto, and it wasn't much of an inconvenience to drive through traffic across town, and meet with Soto and agent Scott Boras," Nightengale wrote. "The meeting helps perhaps drive the price up for Soto, and even more important, puts a little pressure on outfielder Teoscar Hernandez into re-signing with them."
Hernández rejected his qualifying offer from the Dodgers on Nov. 19. But, Los Angeles can still offer the two-time MLB All-Star the multi-year contract he has been seeking since last offseason.
After signing Cy Young pitcher Blake Snell — who was also a popular free agent — to a five-year, $182 million contract, it is hard to imagine the Dodgers going after Soto. However, with this team, anything is possible in the offseason.
Photo Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
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