Ranking Juan Soto’s MLB Free Agency Options

The Juan Soto sweepstakes are officially underway, with baseball’s biggest free agent aiming to cash in on one of the largest contracts in Major League Baseball history.

Soto’s 2024 with the New York Yankees proved to be one of the most electric contract seasons baseball has ever seen. His 41 home runs, .989 OPS, and career-high 166 hits set the tone for a New York lineup that willed its way to the World Series, and Soto’s presence was a significant reason for it.

Experts expect the outfielder to garner anywhere between $600 million and $700 million this offseason, and he’s already set to ignite a bidding war in Gotham. But the Yankees won’t be the only team in on the 26-year-old for a mega deal. In fact, they may not even be the favorites.

1. New York Mets

The New York Mets have been long-rumored to be in on Soto as a free agent, even before his trade to the Yankees last winter.

The team led the league in payroll last season with nearly $318 million allocated to a squad that finished second in the National League. Owner Steve Cohen is the richest in all of baseball, and his involvement in the game completely altered how Major League Baseball staggers its Competitive Balance Tax (something the team will have to consider in pursuing Soto).

What aids the Mets in their Soto pursuit is what comes off of the books. Their payroll drops to just north of $121 million with all of their free agents on the market, and while they will certainly remain competitive in pursuing others, Soto is the priority. Cohen’s deep pockets, combined with a successful 2024 campaign, make the Mets arguably the most appealing draw for Soto, and Citi Field’s left-handed hitter-friendly dimensions do as well. He’s a career .333 hitter there with 12 homers to boot.

2. New York Yankees

The Yankees claimed they were going all-in by acquiring Soto in return for budding star Michael King, catcher Kyle Higashioka, and several notable prospects. The trade sent the team to the World Series, and Soto helped them get there with an American League Championship Series-winning homer.

The Bronx proved to be a perfect fit for Soto’s hitting approach, and his presence allowed fellow slugger Aaron Judge to have the best statistical season of his career. Soto’s stock also benefitted from the move, putting up a career-high 7.9 Wins Above Replacement (WAR). So why would a return not be a slam dunk?

Simply put, the once mighty Yankees are seemingly non-commital about spending much this offseason. They had the second-highest payroll in all of baseball last year, but even with more than $120 million coming off the books this offseason, owner Hal Steinbrenner has noted on multiple occasions he would like to cut costs and win through efficiency. The Yankees are in a small window to win with Judge and ace Gerrit Cole in the peak of their primes, and it’s possible a long-term commitment from Soto could see him endure some dark days three to five years from now.

The Yanks have the financial flexibility to match the Mets should they want to, but they may opt to fill other positional needs and spend more on other players.

3. Toronto Blue Jays

If you believed several reports last offseason, the Toronto Blue Jays came close to signing megastar Shohei Ohtani. Should that in fact be true, it shows the team is willing to spend to bring an attraction to Canada.

Soto would be the biggest free agent to ever sign with the Blue Jays and could potentially be the kick the franchise needs to turn the corner on a few seasons of underperformance. Toronto has around $122 million on the books as of now, which would give them room to maneuver before hitting the $241 million luxury tax threshold. That gives Toronto a significant spending advantage.

Vlad Guerrero Jr. led the team in homers with 30 last year, and no one else hit more than 19. Soto’s 41 in 2024 and 35 the year prior show he has the ability to completely alter the dynamic of Toronto’s offense, and with a solid young core in place, he could prove to be the X-Factor in making the Blue Jays competitive.

4. Los Angeles Dodgers

The World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers made the big splashes in last year’s offseason, dishing out a record $700 million contract to Ohtani and $325 million to starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Could they really be in on another potential $700 million deal?

With a ring to show for it, why not? The Dodgers are loaded with depth across nearly every position and have a lineup core that will terrorize MLB pitching for the next five years. Add Soto into the mix, and Los Angeles would make a compelling argument of having the greatest lineup in baseball history. The team is shedding around $80 million this offseason, and a commitment to Soto would likely take up half of that.

One major difference here would be the Average Annual Value (AAV) of a potential deal. While Ohtani was willing to defer almost all of his money so the Dodgers could add around him, Soto is not expected to do the same. His contact will be a heavy burden on any team he signs with, and adding significant long-term expenses to a payroll that will already be heavy with future commitments could hamper their pursuit. Their west coast location could also affect Soto’s interest, as it is widely believed he prefers the East Coast.

5. Boston Red Sox

The once-mighty Boston Red Sox have played conservatively since their 2018 World Series win, cutting payroll significantly and focusing on developing young talent. While it has earned the franchise plenty of criticism in and around baseball, it may open them up to make a significant push for Soto.

Boston has $107 million in payroll commitments as things currently stand, which means they have a unique opportunity to spend big on Soto should they choose to. Soto’s bat would be an immaculate fit at Fenway Park, with his ability to spray the field serving him well at the hitter-friendly stadium. In theory, it seems like a great situation.

However, the Red Sox and their lack of competitiveness over the past several seasons could devalue the team in Soto’s eyes, as he reportedly wants to play for an immediate contender. That could hinder Boston in their pursuit, unless they can prove to him they’re closer than they appear.

6. San Francisco Giants

If the San Francisco Giants were on the East Coast, they may be much higher on this list. Still, there is a compelling case for why they could be in on Soto’s services.

Firstly, the Giants have badly missed out on stars the past several seasons, spurned by names like Judge and Bryce Harper. The desire to finally have an attraction at Oracle Park surely sits at the forefront of the new President of Baseball Operations, Buster Posey’s head. Posey is someone who knows a thing or two about winning with his three World Series rings, and Soto fits the profile.

However, a commitment to Soto would likely take the Giants out of adding other significant pieces they badly need. They finished 20th in the league in average last season, 17th in runs, and 20th in hits. Soto’s presence would certainly help, but the ballpark doesn’t exactly fit his prowess either. He’s also a below-average fielder metrically, and the dimensions of Oracle would almost certainly cause trouble.