Video: Yankees' Juan Soto Says He'd Like to Play with Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani

Superstar team-ups haven't become common in MLB like they have in the NBA, but that hasn't stopped New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto from envisioning one such scenario.

Soto cited the Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani on Monday as the one player he'd like to share a clubhouse with, conceding this is likely to remain a hypothetical for the foreseeable future:

The Yankees right fielder is a free agent after this season, so there's a straightforward way to make this happen.

Dodgers fans can keep dreaming, though.

Even an organization with as many resources as Los Angeles has to draw a line somewhere. The team is on pace to have a $235.2 million payroll in 2025, which will be the highest in baseball. Signing Soto would push that total close to $300 million before accounting for any other additions.

In June, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel spoke with 28 executives, agents and insiders around the league to get a read on the four-time All-Star's likely value on the open market. The average came out to $40.4 million annually for 12 years.

Should Soto re-sign with the Yankees or just stay in the American League on a different team, that would close the door on an Ohtani pairing for a while. They'd even be drawn on opposite sides in the All-Star Game for the bulk or entirety of what's left of their playing careers.

Nothing can be ruled out entirely. Imagine going back in time to the days after the Washington Nationals' 2019 World Series win and telling fans that Soto would be traded not once but twice within the next five years.

Maybe two of the best hitters from their generation can join forces after all.