Juan Soto is going to be the most coveted free agent this offseason. The Philadelphia Phillies, according to a report, are expected to be in the bidding.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that the Phillies are “expected to strongly pursue [Soto] to team up with Boras client Bryce Harper.”
Soto’s current team, the Yankees, along with the Mets, Blue Jays and Giants were all named as possible suitors, per Nightengale. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported on Sunday that the Dodgers could pursue Soto if he has interest in going back to the west coast.
Soto, 26, is the best hitter of his generation. Through his first seven MLB seasons, Soto is slashing .285/.421/.532 with 201 home runs and 592 RBIs. His rare combination of power and patience has him on a path to Cooperstown.
His skills at the plate along with his relative youth will earn him a record-setting payday. Soto will go to the free agent market entering his age 26 season. His contract, which will likely include opt outs, is expected to exceed the present-day value of Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, $700 million deal. Ohtani’s deal is worth approximately $460 million when accounting for deferrals.
The Yankees are believed to be the favorites to retain Soto. Soto has thrived under the spotlight in New York. His game-winning home run in the 10th inning against Cleveland in Game 5 of the ALCS will go down as one of the more iconic moments in recent Yankee history. Regardless of the outcome of the World Series, their fans will be begging Hal Steinbrenner to pay up to re-sign Soto.
For the Phillies, it will be interesting to see just how far they would be willing to go in the bidding if they turn out to be serious contenders for Soto. Barring a few trades that shed some salary, they will likely enter 2025 in the third luxury tax tier for the first time in franchise history. A Soto signing would be by far the biggest free-agent expenditure in team history.
Philadelphia does have some advantages in the recruitment stage. Soto, as Nightengale mentioned, played one season in Washington with Harper in 2018. Former Nationals Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner also played with Soto. Current Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long, who spent four seasons with Soto in Washington, was his mentor. Long had a big impact on Soto’s development into a superstar player.
But none of that matters unless the Phillies remain competitive in the bidding.
