It might be too early to start talking about the upcoming offseason — there are still two weeks left in the regular season — but that hasn’t stopped one writer from reporting on the upcoming free agency of New York Yankees’ outfielder Juan Soto.
On Sunday, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Phillies are one of five teams expected to make a bid for Soto in the offseason. At least that’s the belief among certain baseball executives. The other four teams certain people in the industry think will bid on Soto are the Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants.
Soto is having a great season in the Bronx. The 25-year-old entered Sunday with a .985 OPS and a career-high 39 home runs. Paired with Aaron Judge atop the Yankees’ lineup, Soto has been a huge part of the club’s success this season. New York currently leads the AL East with a 86-63 record. Being able to see him up close, along with him being able to see what it’s like playing for the club, probably makes the Yankees the favorites to sign Soto this offseason.
While the Mets are probably right behind the Yankees in terms of clubs most likely to add Soto this winter, money does talk. Phillies managing partner John Middleton wants to win. And he’s shown a willingness to spend a lot of money to do so. Maybe if the Phillies come up short in October, Middleton would be willing to open up his pockets again. Maybe not. The club already has a lot of money guaranteed to their 2025 payroll. Soto is probably going to sign a contract worth at least $500 million. Financially, it may not be plausible for the Phillies to sign the generational talent.
Soto, a Scott Boras client, is going to be linked to a lot of teams once the offseason officially begins. The Phillies are going to be one of those teams. Whether or not the interest is, or will be real, is something we’ll have to wait to find out. Soto probably doesn’t leave New York. But when it comes to free agency, anything can happen.
