Just hours after the Yankees fell short in the World Series, Juan Soto is preparing to hit the open market as one of the most tantalizing free agents in recent memory. The 26-year-old slugger is positioned to set the market ablaze, and the Phillies are primed to make a run.
Phillies owner John Middleton, still hungry for a deeper October push, sees Soto as the kind of transformative bat that could swing the National League balance of power.
At just 26, Soto’s blend of power, patience, and poise makes him a perfect fit for just about any club. His .288 average, 41 home runs, 129 walks, and a .989 OPS this past season underline his impact at the plate. Soto ranked fourth in fWAR and is a Gold Glove finalist in right field, rounding out his profile as one of the game’s rarest talents. In the playoffs, he only raised his stock, slashing .327 with four home runs as the Yankees reached the Fall Classic.
Reflecting on the chance to enter free agency, Soto sounded both humbled and energized. “It’s going to be exciting,” he told reporters after the Yankees’ Game 5 loss to the Dodgers. “I think every player in the big leagues wants to experience this. We’ll see how it goes.” And while he expressed gratitude to New York, he left the door wide open. “I don’t have any doors closed,” he added. “We’re going to be available for all 30 teams.”
For Soto, the impending suitors will be as elite as they are few. The New York clubs are natural contenders, as are other big-market teams with money to spend. Soto could very well be baseball’s next $600 million man, a prospect he’s eyeing carefully. “It’s a lot of money people are talking about here and there, but we’re going to shake it out,” he said. “What’s my value?”
Scott Boras will begin fielding offers for Soto next week at the GM meetings in Texas, and if history is any guide, we could be looking at a long, heated pursuit. Soto would look magnificent in red Phillies pinstripes, but there’s no question his price tag raises real challenges for a team with multiple holes to address.
For the Phillies, who could use upgrades in the rotation, a restructured bullpen, and potentially new blood in the infield, it’s a steep commitment. It would be negligent for Middleton and Co. to not court Soto, but 10 years at $500 million or more is a lot to commit for a club that may need more than just one roster piece to reach the next level.
Let the sweepstakes begin.
