All eyes are on Juan Soto as the MLB offseason heats up, with the superstar free agent potentially making his decision within days. Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, hinted that the slugger’s free agency process is nearing its end. Speaking at Blake Snell’s introductory press conference at Dodger Stadium, Boras shared insight into Soto’s decision-making process:
“When you go through these things, you just have a lot of information to meld through,” Boras said. “We’ve had meetings with a number of franchises. He’s begun the process of eliminating teams and doing things. Juan is a very methodical thinker, so we’ll see. I don’t think anything is imminent in the near future.”
Despite Boras tempering expectations for an immediate decision, ESPN reports Soto could finalize his choice by the end of the week, just before the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas. Soto’s free agency has drawn significant interest, with at least five teams — the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, and Toronto Blue Jays — vying for his signature.
According to The Athletic, Soto’s remaining contenders have already presented offers exceeding $600 million, setting a massive baseline. With Shohei Ohtani’s historic $700 million contract as a benchmark, many wonder how close Soto will come to that record-breaking figure. While Soto is unlikely to match Ohtani’s $70 million annual average value (AAV), his total deal could surpass it when adjusted for inflation. MLB has calculated Ohtani’s deal as $460 million for luxury tax purposes. However, Soto’s younger age entering free agency — three years younger than Ohtani — strengthens his negotiating power.
Several factors will determine Soto’s final landing spot and the structure of his contract. While Soto’s appeal is purely on-field, Ohtani brings additional off-field economic advantages, such as significant Japanese advertising revenue. Furthermore, Soto is reportedly not entertaining deferrals, which could complicate negotiations. The inclusion of opt-outs might also affect teams’ willingness to offer long-term deals.
Whether Soto reaches or surpasses $700 million remains uncertain, but his current position as the centerpiece of a bidding war among MLB’s financial giants underscores his immense value. If a decision comes soon, Soto will set the tone for the rest of the offseason — and possibly redefine MLB’s financial landscape.