Aug 26, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Yankees right fielder Juan Soto (22) salutes the Washington Nationals bench before an at bat during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-USA TODAY Sports
The dynamic duo of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto have led the New York Yankees to the top of the American League East and have them fighting for the best record in all of baseball.
While Judge is under contract through 2031, Soto will be a free agent at the end of the year. He won’t turn 26 until October and there will no doubt be multiple suitors willing to pay a fortune to sign Soto.
One sportsbook places the Over/Under on his next contract at $500.5 million. The Yankees are the -400 favorites to land Soto, implying an 80 percent chance he returns to the Bronx. However, several big-market teams are sure to come calling, too.
If Soto is open to leaving the Yankees, teams such as the Phillies, Red Sox, Cubs and crosstown rival Mets are among the favorites to sign the slugger in his prime.
JUAN SOTO’S NEXT TEAM QUOTES*
Philadelphia Phillies (+500)
Boston Red Sox (+600)
Chicago Cubs (+700)
Toronto Blue Jays (+800)
New York Mets (+900)
San Francisco Giants (+1000)
Seattle Mariners (+1000)
Orioles de Baltimore (+1200)
Los Angeles Dodgers (+1200)
Atlanta Braves (+1400)
Kansas City Royals (+1800)
Astros de Houston (+2000)
Washington Nationals (+2000)
Diamondbacks de Arizona (+2500)
Detroit Tigers (+2500)
Miami Marlins (+2500)
St. Louis Cardinals (+2800)
Texas Rangers (+2800)
Milwaukee Brewers (+3300)
Minnesota Twins (+3300)
Pittsburgh Pirates (+4000)
Cincinnati Reds (+5000)
Cleveland Browns (+5000)
Colorado Rockies (+5000)
Oakland Athletics (+5000)
San Diego Padres (+5000)
Tampa Bay Rays (+5000)
Chicago White Sox (+7500)
Los Angeles Angels (+7500)
*Odds provided by SportsBetting.ag for informational purposes only.
Soto, now in his seventh major league season, entered Friday batting .291 with 37 homers and 95 RBIs in 130 games. He also has a 1.012 OPS, third best in the majors.
He has a .285 average with 197 home runs and 578 RBIs in 909 career games.
“Being in a place where we can win a couple championships, and even if we don’t, just being in the running every year. I think that’s the most important thing to me,” Soto told The Athletic last month when asked about his priorities as a free agent.
While several big-market teams are expected to court him, Soto also expressed a willingness to sign with a team prepared to build its team around him. Could that include a possible return to Washington, where he spent the first four seasons of his career? The Nationals are in the middle of the pack at +2000 to lure him back to Washington.
Other teams that might be willing to open their wallets include the Blue Jays, who retained Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette at this year’s trade deadline, along with the Rangers and Astros, who offer the lure of not having to pay state income taxes in Texas.
“I tell them you never know who’s going to be next,” Soto told The Athletic. “I’m going to try to build a beautiful team around me to win a championship. At the end of the day, you have to sit back, look at what these teams offer and make a decision from there.”
–Field level media
