The New York Mets could potentially make a run at New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto following the end of the 2024 season.
Soto is making $31 million this season and will soon be a free agent. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that the outfielder will likely be a target for the Mets as they need a middle-of-the-order bat in the lineup. The 26-year-old is not going to come cheap when he enters free agency. The Washington Nationals previously offered Juan Soto a contract valued at 15-year, $440 million contract but it was turned down when he was just 23 years old. Three years later, Soto is on the verge of landing one of baseball’s biggest contracts in history. At minimum, the outfielder is looking at no less than $500 million. He is under 30 years old and entering the prime of his career, so everything is playing in his favor.
Mets Eyeing Juan Soto for Offseason Addition
Current Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor thinks Soto would help their team a lot.
The Mets are not the only team with the money to pursue the outfielder. Passan reports that the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Los Angeles Angels might be in the mix for Soto. The Seattle Mariners could swoop in on the sweepstakes. The bidding war will probably come down to the New York clubs. It’s really a question of just how high they go. Soto has better numbers than Bryce Harper, who landed a 13-year, $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies when he became a free agent.
Soto’s All-Star Like Statistics
In his first and potentially only season playing for the Yankees, Soto is helping himself in every way as he looks to his next contract. With about a month left in the season, his 37 home runs are a personal best. He has a good eye for the ball, leading the league in walks in four different seasons. Any team will be happy to sign one outfielder who is among the top four active players in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and on-base plus slugging percentage, respectively.
Since his debut in 2019, Soto finished second in Rookie of the Year voting and has four top-ten finishes in MVP voting. The outfielder has four All-Star Game selections and won several Silver Slugger Awards. He is also a World Series champion, having played for the Washington Nationals in 2019.
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