The Dodgers are poised to become the latest club to land a superstar free agent Juan Sotoaccording to a report from Mark Feinsand of MLB.com earlier this evening. A meeting between the parties is scheduled for tomorrow. The Dodgers will join the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Blue Jays in meeting with Soto already, although Feinsand also reports that an undisclosed team in addition to that team has already met with Soto. The Giants, Phillies, and Rays are among the teams known to be interested in Soto who have yet to have a publicly reported meeting with the outfielder.
That Soto and the Dodgers have a meeting scheduled is an interesting development given the somewhat mixed reports about the team’s plans for the star. Previous reports have indicated that while LA intends to be part of Soto’s free agency, those reports have also warned that the club may not be as aggressive as other suitors. That cautious approach toward Soto on the Dodgers’ part may at least be due to questions about whether or not Soto, a native of the Dominican Republic and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prefers to play on the East Coast. Notably, Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting tonight that sources close to Soto have “played down” those rumors of a move, suggesting that Soto previously enjoyed living on the west coast while playing for the Padres.
It is not known where Soto’s interests lie in terms of the country, but Soto emphasized to reporters that winning is his priority, and it was reported that he asked the Red Sox during a meeting with team officials about the organization’s commitment to victory. If winning is Soto’s priority, it’s hard to argue with the Dodgers. The reigning World Series champions have made the postseason in twelve consecutive seasons, and since 2017 have averaged over 102 wins per year (except for the 60-game 2020 season where they went 43-17 and won the World Series Series) while collecting two additional NLs. pennants in addition to their World Series championship. Last winter, the club added a possibility Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamotoagain Tyler Glasnow to the impressive core of talent already included Mookie Betts again Freddie Freeman. Los Angeles figures to remain a juggernaut in the NL for years to come, and the addition of Soto to their already illustrious roster will only underscore that.
Given his elite talent, any club would be able to find a place for Soto in their roster. With that being said, it’s pretty easy to see how Soto will fit into the Dodgers’ plans. With Mookie Betts expected to return to the field in the 2025 season, the club may be looking to make more additions to the outfield mix that includes only a relief player. Tommy Edman and the youngest Andy Pages as possible daily choices. Even if the club wanted to reunite with the free agent Teoscar Hernandez as previously rumored, it’s easy to envision the duo manning the Dodgers’ outfield with Edman as the leadoff hitter in center while Pages backs up the three starters and fills in for Edman on infield days.
Financially, it’s mind-boggling to think of the Dodgers giving Soto a contract worth more than half a billion dollars in one year after spending more than a billion on Ohtani and Yamamoto during last winter’s spending spree, Ohtani’s delayed structure. A contract can make such costs reasonable. The club’s cap hit for 2025 is currently estimated at $276MM, according to RosterResource. That clocks in at $50MM under the team’s 2024 salary cap, opening a clear path to adding Soto even at a record-setting average annual price. That wouldn’t leave much room for much-needed rotation upgrades or more offensive additions like reuniting with Hernandez, but ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez notes that the value of Ohtani’s first season in LA “destroyed” the club’s financial projections. Given that fact, it’s not impossible to imagine that the club has more room to lead than to return to the level that left them with the number two lead in baseball last year.
Regardless of which club Soto ends up managing, Feinsand continues to report a belief around the league that a decision could be made soon. Specifically, Feinsand suggests that while Soto is expected to sign before Thanksgiving, “the feeling around the league” is that the 26-year-old could arrive somewhere before the Winter Meetings when one official suggested to him that it would be the case. it would be surprising if he hasn’t signed before the end of the Conferences on December 12. With one month left until the Winter Conferences and no team reported to have as many as made an official request.
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