Juan Soto Rumors: Red Sox, Blue Jays Among Teams to Check in on Yankees Free Agent

Juan Soto is the biggest name in free agency this winter, with the New York Yankees superstar expected to garner a huge—and ultimately extremely lucrative—market.

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays (yes, you read that correctly) and "at least four more teams" are thought to all be in the sweepstakes for Soto.

Heyman noted that the Yankees are "full of advantages after Soto seemed to enjoy his year in The Bronx," but the team could ultimately be priced out of Soto, who is likely to sign a contract worth over $500 million in total money.

He described the Mets as the "top outside threat" to land Soto, while the Dodgers are always a possibility to land top free agents. However, Heyman reported that the Yankees see the Blue Jays as the "second-biggest obstacle after the Mets because they're skeptical Soto would go to the west coast."

Heyman wrote that the Red Sox have been "quietly laying the groundwork to begin spending and competing again after completely laying low for years," according to people around baseball, while the Giants always seem to be in the mix for top stars and never seem to land them. And the small-market Rays, who still are figuring out their stadium situation after the devastation of Hurricane Milton are "probably the long shot of the century."

Of the teams not listed, the Philadelphia Phillies have been the on most regularly linked to Soto, with Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reporting Wednesday that the Phils "will likely take a shot at the four-time All-Star, a source said, hoping the presence of former Nationals teammates Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber and hitting coach Kevin Long could work to their advantage."

But the prevailing belief around baseball is that Soto will pick between the New York teams.

"It's the Yankees or the Mets," an American League executive told Feinsand. "He knows the Yankees well after spending a year there, and Steve Cohen has enough money to give him whatever he wants if he decides he wants him badly enough. It's tough for me to see Soto winding up anywhere else."

Soto, 26, had a fantastic season for the Yankees in 2024, hitting .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBI, 128 runs and a .989 OPS. His homers and runs were career highs, while his OPS was his highest mark since 2021. There are benefits to having Aaron Judge hitting behind you.

Given his age and productivity, Soto is going to command a massive deal, and the more teams in the running, the higher the bidding will go. It still sounds as though the talks will end with him signing a contract in New York City, however.