Report: Where Juan Soto Sweepstakes Currently Stands

It sounds like we could be getting closer to a decision in the sweepstakes for superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto.
Oct 28, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) before playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Oct 28, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) before playing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game three of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images / Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Is free agent superstar Juan Soto closing in on making a decision?

The Athletic is reporting that Soto has begun the process of eliminating teams that have expressed interest in signing him with all remaining contenders having made offers above $600 million. Regarding where things currently stand, the New York Yankees and Mets remain the two favorites to sign the star outfielder.

During Blake Snell's introductory press conference with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, Soto's agent Scott Boras was asked whether or not a signing for the star outfielder was close to happening.

“When you’re going through these things, he’s just got 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, but I don’t think anything is imminent in the near future.”

Soto, who was traded to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres last December is coming off a great lone season in The Bronx and is expected to receive a record-breaking contract that could eclipse Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal he signed with the Dodgers last offseason.

The 26-year-old slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBI in 157 regular season games. Soto also played a major factor in helping send the Bronx Bombers to their first World Series since 2009 when he hit a dramatic go-ahead three-run home run in Game 5 of the ALCS against the Cleveland Guardians.

With the Winter Meetings scheduled to begin on December 9 in Dallas, time will tell whether Soto makes his free agency decision by then.


Published
Logan VanDine
LOGAN VANDINE

Logan VanDine is a contributing writer for On SI's Mets and Yankees websites. Logan is a graduate of Rider University where he majored in Sports Media and minored in Sports Studies. During his time at Rider, Logan worked for Rider's radio station, 107.7 The Bronc as a sports host, producer and broadcaster, and for the school's paper: The Rider News. He began his time with The Rider News as a section writer for sports and was a copy editor for two years followed by being one of the sports editors during his senior year. Logan also placed third in the New Jersey Press Foundation Awards for sports feature writing. Aside from his work at On SI, he is also a writer for FanSided covering the New York Giants and Mets and also covers the Giants for Total Apex Sports. Give him a follow on X: @VandineLogan