MLB Rumors: Top Buzz on Yankees' Juan Soto and More Amid 2024 World Series Bracket

Amid the march to the World Series, organizations across MLB are setting their sights on free agency and acquiring the players they hope will put them in the annual Fall Classic.

Juan Soto headlines the class of free agents and could potentially find himself playing for a championship with the Yankees. What division foe, though, could be in play for the slugger, throwing a wrench in New York's attempt to keep him?

Find out with this collection of rumors and reports that also include the latest on Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert and Padres all-world rookie, Jackson Merrill.

Logan Gilbert, Mariners Have Had No Contract Extensions

Christopher Mast/Getty Images

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - SEPTEMBER 29: Logan Gilbert #36 of the Seattle Mariners pitches during the first inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park on September 29, 2024 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Christopher Mast/Getty Images)

Logan Gilbert is one of the best pitchers in baseball, but he has yet to have extension talks with the Mariners, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times reported.

Gilbert had career-bests in innings pitched (208.2) and WHIP (0.887) with one complete game.

He is one-fifth of the best rotation in baseball and an asset the Mariners would understandably like to keep. That he is in his second year of arbitration eligibility and under team control through 2027 at least partly explains the team's lack of movement on discussions.

Still, having those talks and getting an extension done before the start of next season would give the team some ever-important cost-certainty that would allow it to know how much it has available to improve other important areas of the roster, including its offense, which was all-too-nonexistent at times in 2024.

Realistically, if it came to it, the Mariners could leverage him as trade bait in hopes of acquiring a big bat, prospect, and/or draft compensation but he is arguably the best pitcher in a rotation full of them.

Considering how essential pitching is to competing for a World Series title, doing anything but getting him under a long-term deal feels like a misstep for an organization that cannot really afford them if they hope to realistically compete in the American League.

Jackson Merrill, Padres Had Pre-Debut Extension Talks

Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 11: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres looks on after his team was defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game Five of the Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 11, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)

The Padres knew they had a special player in Jackson Merrill, as evidenced by the pre-debut contract extension talks they had with him, as reported by The Athletic's Denis Lin.

Merrill paid off those suspicions with a rookie campaign that saw him slash .292/.326/.500, blast 24 home runs, and steal 16 bases.

The first-year player combined power and contact with a strong defensive effort,

He was extraordinary for the NL West runners-up and a clear building block for the organization as it chases the Los Angeles Dodgers and its first World Series title.

Given all that he accomplished in his first full season with the organization, it would behoove the Padres to resume those conversations and lock up a potential All-Star and MVP of the future for years to come.

AL East Team to Make Juan Soto a Massive Offer

Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - OCTOBER 09: New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) during game 3 of the ALDS between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals on October 9, 2024 at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Juan Soto will be the most coveted free agent available this offseason, with big-money organizations and championship contenders looking to add the 26-year-old to their rosters.

Randy Miller of NJ.com reported that a close friend of Yankees slugger Soto' s revealed, "Look for the Blue Jays to make an astronomical offer."

Miller shared the details, reporting, "He's hearing ownership hopes to re-sign star third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is headed to free agency, and bring in Soto on a deal that could be the richest non-deferred contract in MLB history."

Such a deal would throw a wrench into expectations from industry insiders, such as Jon Heyman and Buster Olney, who believe Soto ends up staying with the Yankees or moving across the city to the Mets.

It is not surprising that the Blue Jays might want to acquire Soto, who tallied career highs in hits (166), runs (128), and home runs (41) en route to an AL East division crown and a spot in the ALCS with the Yankees.

Considering Toronto has under-performed in each of the last two seasons, even re-signing Guerrero Jr. and spending more money may not be enough to convince Soto to head north.

Especially given the taste of winning he has enjoyed in the Big Apple.

Should the Yankees or Mets win the World Series, the degree of difficulty to get him to leave New York becomes even greater.