While Heyman called the Dodgers a “long shot” in the sweepstakes, he didn’t want to count them out, as Soto could very well choose to sign with L.A. with opt outs and have a great chance to win a couple World Series titles before re-entering free agency.
As for the rest of the offers, though, Heyman says the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox have all made offers “in the ballpark” of 15 years, $700 million. If money is one of the main motivating factors, it seems likely that Soto ends up with one of those four teams.
The fact that the Dodgers are even in the conversation with Soto shows how ultra-aggressive the front office is operating this offseason.
One year after spending $1.4 billion — and just a month after winning the World Series — the Dodgers are, yet again, looking for ways to improve, and doing so at the top of the market
Soto is coming off a 2024 season in which he slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 runs batted in. He had a wRC+ of 180 and an fWAR of 8.1 while finishing third in American League MVP voting behind his teammate, Aaron Judge, and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Soto is now a free agent at just 26 years old, and is a generational talent who can single-handedly alter the future of a franchise. Clearly, he’s going to be paid like it when a contract is finalized potentially in the next few days.
As for the Dodgers, they’re likely hoping Soto takes them up on the offer to win and then re-enter free agency. However, if Soto declines to join the Dodgers, they could pivot to bringing back Teoscar Hernández on a multiyear deal.
