The New York Yankees face strong competition from the New York Mets in their pursuit of Juan Soto. The Mets have been among the league’s biggest spenders in recent years, and many around MLB expect them to be highly interested in Soto.
Although the Yankees may have an advantage with Soto’s past experience on their roster, other teams are ready to make substantial offers. Bob Nightengale of USA Today predicts that the Toronto Blue Jays could step in with a massive 14-year, $630 million contract, believing that if the Yankees stick to their initial offer, the Blue Jays could use their remaining $700 million to secure Soto.
Yankees’ Owner Plans to Meet With Scott Boras
The Toronto Blue Jays have become a notable team to watch for high-profile players in recent years, though they haven’t yet landed any of baseball’s top stars. However, there’s hope they might secure a deal with Juan Soto.
Still, the consensus around MLB is that Soto’s decision will likely come down to the New York Yankees and the New York Mets, with a bidding war between the two New York teams highly anticipated.
Chris Kirschner of The Athletic reports that, despite Soto’s previous experience with the Yankees, the team plans to meet with Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, and Soto in the future. “Steinbrenner is scheduled to visit Southern California, where Boras’ headquarters are located,” a league source confirmed. The New York Post initially reported Steinbrenner’s upcoming trip.
It’s unclear exactly when Steinbrenner will fly out, but the visit will follow the Mets’ meeting with Soto. Earlier this week, Boras mentioned that Soto wants face-to-face meetings with team owners to understand their perspectives on his market value and their commitment to building a winning team around him.
Some believe the Yankees could benefit from meeting with Soto after the Mets. Kirschner noted, “The timing works to the Yankees’ advantage, as Steinbrenner’s visit will give him insight into Cohen’s offer, potentially shaping Soto’s decision-making process.”
Blue Jays Viewed as ‘Dark-Horse Candidate’
If Juan Soto’s decision hinges on signing with the highest bidder, then theoretically, any team in baseball could be in contention. While only a few teams are likely willing to meet such a high price, those that are should be considered serious contenders.
This is why the Toronto Blue Jays potentially outbidding the New York Yankees for Soto wouldn’t be shocking. Bob Nightengale has described the Blue Jays as a “dark-horse candidate” to watch closely.
“Although every team would love to have Soto,” Nightengale noted, “executives believe the final contenders will be the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants, with the Blue Jays standing out as a popular dark-horse pick.”
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