The Juan Soto rumors have been ramping up over the last few days, with everyone waiting to find out where the slugger would end up playing in 2025.
One MLB insider believes Soto will make a decision at next week’s Winter Meetings and will use this week to cut down potential suitors. If reports circulating this past weekend are correct, the Red Sox and Mets are among the finalists to land the 26-year-old.
The Athletic’s Andy McCullough gave his thoughts on why the Mets will ultimately win the Soto sweepstakes in an article highlighting where free agents were most likely to sign.
“Scott Boras referred to Soto as ‘the Mona Lisa of the museum.’ (Mets owner) Steve Cohen is baseball’s most prolific art collector,” McCullough wrote. “We looked like knuckleheads last year when our galaxy-brained take on Shohei Ohtani led us to forecasting him joining the Texas Rangers.
“No need to complicate things. Cohen has the deepest pockets. He will dip into them to sign Soto to the richest (present-day value, for sure) contract in baseball history.”
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McCullough isn’t alone in his thoughts that the Mets will have Soto on their roster next year. ESPN’s David Schoefiled predicted the Mets would indeed sign Soto to a 13-year, $611 million contract a few days before McCullough.
“With owner Steve Cohen’s checkbook, money isn’t an issue — indeed, if the Mets decide they must have Soto, it’s hard to imagine any team, including the Yankees, outbidding Cohen,” Schoefield wrote. “… Even if Soto comes at that $47 million annual salary, plenty of payroll room will remain to sign a couple of starting pitchers.”
Interestingly enough, both McCullough and Schoefield have the Red Sox signing left-handed pitcher Max Fried in free agency to help bolster Boston’s starting rotation.
Featured image via Gary A. Vasquez/Imagn Images
