The Soto Sweepstakes: Evaluating His Free Agency Prospects

 

Photo From Clutchpoints.com

With the 2024 MLB season in the books, free agency talk is well underway. The biggest topic is where four-time All-Star Juan Soto will end up in 2025. Soto is a free agent after completing his one-year, $31 million contract with the New York Yankees.

Soto had an outstanding contract year with the Yankees, finishing with 128 runs (2nd in the league), 128 walks (2nd in the league), a .458 on-base percentage (2nd in the league), a .989 OPS (3rd in the league), 41 home runs (4th in the league), a .569 slugging percentage (4th in the league), 109 RBIs (6th in the league), and a 7.9 WAR (6th in the league), while batting .288 (16th in the league) with 166 hits (17th in the league).

This wasn’t the only season Soto dominated. Since joining the league in 2018, Soto is a four-time All-Star, World Series champion (2019), two-time All-MLB First Team selection, All-MLB Second Team selection, four-time Silver Slugger Award winner, Babe Ruth Award recipient, and NL batting champion.

All that said, Soto is due for a massive payday. Rumors are Soto’s deal will start at 10 years and $500 million, but competition among big-market teams could drive it up to $600 million or more.

Here are the top three teams I think Soto will consider signing with this offseason.

New York Yankees

Soto had the best season of his career with the Yankees in 2024, and the combination of him and Aaron Judge proved to be lethal. The Yankees finished the regular season with a record of 94-68 and clinched the top seed in the AL, entering the playoffs. They cruised through the AL in the postseason before facing an absolutely stacked Dodgers team in the World Series, ultimately losing in five games. Soto was immediately introduced with a warm welcome to the Bronx and was instantly a fan favorite. I am sure Soto will look back on this season with fond memories, but will that outweigh the Yankees Game 5 collapse in the World Series that ended their season?

New York Mets

If Soto's main focus is getting the largest salary possible, then the New York Mets have a great shot of securing him. The Mets have over $180 million clearing from their payroll, a substantial amount that includes their own free agents and dead money (salaries of players no longer on the team) from players such as Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. Owner Steve Cohen is not afraid to spend money; the Mets entered 2024 with the largest payroll in baseball at $347 million. On top of having the money to sign him, the Mets had a very exciting 2024 season. They struggled to start the season; at one point, they were 11 games under .500 in late May. From June through September, they had the best record in baseball and made a crazy postseason run to the NLCS, where they lost to the Dodgers in six games. If Soto decides to sign with the Mets, he would not have to move, as Citi Field and Yankee Stadium are only 9.5 miles apart.

Los Angeles Dodgers

If Soto’s main focus is to win his second ring, the choice for him should be easy: move to sunny Los Angeles and sign with the Dodgers. If you can’t beat them, join em. The Dodgers were the best team on paper entering the 2024 season, and they translated that on the field, finishing with the best record in baseball at 98-64 and cruising in the postseason to win their eighth championship. They have a majority of key pieces returning to their roster for 2025, but it is worth noting that Teoscar Hernández and Kiké Hernández are free agents. Even with that in mind, Soto is far better than either Hernández and would instantly make the Dodgers by far and away the most impressive offensive roster in the league. I believe a lineup consisting of Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, and Soto has the potential of winning 120 regular-season games, which would be an MLB record.

Bottom Line

• If Soto is a true competitor, he will want another shot with the Yankees, who were three wins away from hanging their 28th banner this past season. 
• If Soto is a true businessman, he will take his talents to Queens.
• If Soto wants the easiest route to another ring, he will pull a Kevin Durant and sign with the team that knocked him out of the playoffs.

Where do you think Soto lands in 2025? Comment below.