Joe Nicholson
It's abundantly clear that Juan Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, are trying to get as many teams to the table as possible for the 26-year-old superstar's upcoming free agency.
With the Los Angeles Dodgers clinching the World Series title over the Yankees Wednesday night, the focus in New York's clubhouse immediately shifted to the future of Soto, who will probably be the most attractive free agent since Alex Rodriguez hit the open market after the 2000 season.
Though the Yankees came up short in the World Series, Soto's first season in pinstripes was an overwhelming success. He's going to finish in the top five in AL MVP voting after homering 41 times, driving in 109 runs and posting a .989 OPS. He also hit the go-ahead home run in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians that essentially sent the Yankees to the World Series.
But while Soto felt like a perfect fit with the Yankees, at least publicly he said after Game 5 that they will not have any advantage over other suitors in free agency.
"I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency," Soto said. "I don't wanna say anybody has any advantage, because at the end of the day we're going to look at what they have and how much they want me."
"I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency."
-Juan Soto on if the Yankees have an advantage in his free agency
(via @snyyankees)pic.twitter.com/1seUmYOibH
If you got Soto in an honest moment, he'd probably admit that his best-case scenario is that the Yankees present him with the most lucrative offer and he gets to spend the remainder of his career in the Bronx. But he's a Boras client, and they typically go to the highest bidder. It's pretty clear from listening to Soto postgame that whatever team offers him the best deal will immediately jump to the front of the line as the favorite for his services.
We don't yet know what's going to be most important to Soto in free agency. For Bryce Harper, also a Boras client, it was getting 13 years and getting to settle in one place. Harper even ignored Boras' advice to include an opt-out clause in his contract. Soto, like Harper, is a free agent before his age-26 season. He's probably even more accomplished. Does he want to top the $46.1 present-day average annual value that Shohei Ohtani got last offseason? Does he want to become the first player to get a 15-year contract? Does he want an opt-out that allows him to return to the open market in his early 30s if he chooses? The answer is probably some combination of those three
There are obviously marketing opportunities that exist when you play for the Yankees that may not be there if Soto signs anywhere else. Then again, the Mets are widely expected to be the top competition to the Yankees, and at last check, they also play in New York.
What about the Phillies? Well again, it depends what Soto wants. If he likes New York, it's unclear what the Phillies could offer him that the Yankees or Mets couldn't. But USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported earlier this week that the Phillies "are expected to strongly pursue" Soto when he hits the open market. It is worth noting that Boras was quoted earlier in that story, and it's fair to assume that the most powerful agent in the sport wants as many teams as possible bidding for his highest-profile client.
But hey, there are some familiar faces in Philadelphia from Soto's time with the Washington Nationals — Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and hitting coach Kevin Long. The Phillies have reached the postseason in three consecutive seasons. If managing partner John Middleton is willing to match any offer that Hal Steinbrenner and/or Steve Cohen put on the table, the Phillies will probably get serious consideration from a hitter who looks destined for Cooperstown.
Phillies Mailbag on @OnPattison with @AntSanPhilly: What Would a Juan Soto Contract Look Like? https://t.co/hkXfh2slwS
