JUST NOW: Yankees’ Veteran Outfielder will Exit in Free Agency this Summer
While the New York Yankees are expected to re-sign Juan Soto this winter, there is growing speculation that the Washington Nationals will be a significant free agent contender.
The Yankees have one of the greatest records in baseball and are a legitimate threat to win the World Series next month. MVP candidate Aaron Judge has played a significant role in their success, but New York is not a contender for the American League lead without Juan Soto.
The offseason addition is enjoying one of the best seasons of his already impressive career, just as he heads into MLB free agency this winter. At just 25 years old and coming off a strong year, he’s positioned to be at the center of a major free-agent frenzy, much like Shohei Ohtani was last year.
The Yankees, known for their financial resources, are the favorites to offer Juan Soto a contract potentially exceeding $500 million. However, teams like the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers have also shown interest in the All-Star outfielder, though they might not pose the biggest threat to the Yankees.
Recently, the Washington Nationals, Soto’s former team, have been mentioned as a serious contender. A Yankees insider even identified them as a genuine threat last month, citing their roster of talented prospects and a modest $60 million payroll for next season.
Washington Nationals reportedly hoping for Juan Soto reunion this winter
It gives the Nationals a great opportunity to entice Soto back to Washington. He was reportedly distraught when the team traded him two years ago because he refused to sign a new agreement.
This week, ESPN MLB reporter Jorge Castillo examined Juan Soto’s prospective free agent market. In addition, the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs “could make calls” about signing the outfielder this winter. But he had another noteworthy tidbit in his report.
“The Nationals would love a reunion, according to people with knowledge of the situation,” Castillo said in an email. Previously, the Nationals’ interest was speculative. Now, we learn that people within the organisation want the four-time All-Star back.
However, Castillo did highlight that ownership needs open up the purse strings far wider than they did three years ago when they proposed a $440 million deal to be a real contender.