DEAL SEALED AND CONFIRMED: Los Angeles Dodgers Officially Sign Free Agent Juan Soto To a Three-year Contract.
The Los Angeles Dodgers apparently aren’t prepared to write a blank check for free-agent slugger Juan Soto, according to The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal.
Rosenthal reported Monday the reigning World Series champions “are doing what they often do with elite free agents, hanging around the backboard, seeing if the ball somehow falls into their hands.”
As an example, he cited how Los Angeles approached Bryce Harper as a free agent in 2019. The team put a three-year offer on the table that averaged around $35 million to $50 million annually. Harper instead took the 13-year, $330 million pact from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Rosenthal previously cast doubt on the Dodgers’ pursuit of Soto when reporting on their addition of Blake Snell. He called getting the two-time Cy Young winner “practically a necessity” but speculated L.A. will continue to look at Soto “if only to jack up the price for the other bidders.”
Every MLB team would obviously improve by adding the four-time All-Star, who posted a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs in 2024. When the Dodgers already have Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Will Smith to anchor the lineup, Soto would clearly be more of a luxury signing, though.
The Associated Press’ Ronald Blum reported on Nov. 26 that the Dodgers, New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have met with Soto. His agent, Scott Boras, was aiming to have the opening offers from any interested parties in by Thanksgiving.
Negotiations will then extend beyond that, and the New York Post’s Jon Heyman reported the Yankees already “upgraded their initial bid.”
Because of their reputation and resources, the Dodgers can’t be eliminated from the Soto sweepstakes entirely. Because of his age (26), he could choose to take a short-term contract knowing full well another massive payday will be waiting in a few years.
That seems unlikely, though, given what Soto stands to earn from the highest bidder. Heyman reported his suitors might be prepared to “exceed $600 million.”
Based on Rosenthal’s reporting, the Dodgers aren’t one of those teams.
A contract of more than $600 million would be astronomical, but it was just last offseason that Shohei Ohtani signed a heavily deferred $700 million deal with the Dodgers.
And Soto is just 26 years old with a number of seasons of peak production likely remaining. He already has a resume with a World Series championship, batting title, five Silver Sluggers and four All-Star Games and will surely continue adding to it at his next stop.
He slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBI last season and will look to put up similar numbers at his next stop.