The Rays are among the many groups which have reached out to Juan Soto’s camp because the opening of free company final week, writes Jon Heyman of the New York Publish. Heyman lists a a lot much less shocking extra six groups which have proven curiosity: the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays and Crimson Sox.
The mere point out of the Rays as a doable Soto suitor goes to be met with loads of skepticism. It’d be a shock in the event that they made a reliable push for the market’s prime free agent. The Rays have tried to land an elite free agent a minimum of as soon as earlier than, as they reportedly made a proposal within the $150MM vary to Freddie Freeman earlier than he signed with the Dodgers. That wasn’t too far off the worth Freeman finally landed, however any gives to Soto could be in a unique stratosphere. He ought to handily prime $500MM and will safe a contract between $600MM and $700MM.
Whereas it’s truthful to imagine the Rays themselves aren’t optimistic about their probabilities, that is illustrative that they’ve some cash to a minimum of dabble in the course of free company. The Rays opened this previous season with a payroll round $98MM, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts. They’ve received rather less than $40MM in assured commitments for subsequent 12 months (assuming Wander Franco stays on the restricted checklist and isn’t paid). Their arbitration class is projected round $25MM, although they might knock that to the $15MM vary with just a few non-tenders. Trades of Brandon Lowe or Yandy Díaz would subtract one other $10.5MM or $10MM, respectively.
None of that’s to say they need to be perceived as a sensible risk to the big-market groups on Soto. They’ll in all probability be extra lively in free company than many followers may anticipate given their normal spending habits, although. One other mid-tier strike akin to the $40MM Zach Eflin deal from two offseasons in the past could possibly be on the desk. Any free agent pursuits are sophisticated by their unsure stadium state of affairs after Tropicana Discipline was severely broken by Hurricane Milton.
The opposite groups recognized to have some curiosity in Soto are all anticipated. The Yankees and Mets are extensively perceived because the favorites. The Dodgers are a minimum of tied to nearly each free agent of be aware. The information that Mookie Betts is probably going shifting again to the center infield goes to gasoline hypothesis about L.A. making a run at Soto. Giants baseball operations president Buster Posey has spoken about eager to land a star. The Blue Jays have been within the operating for Shohei Ohtani final winter. The Crimson Sox have indicated they could possibly be extra lively in free company than they’ve been over the previous few winters, though a splash within the rotation market appears a lot likelier than them touchdown Soto.
The New York Publish reported final week that 11 groups had been in touch with Soto’s reps on the Boras Company on the primary day of the offseason. That leaves a minimum of 4 unknown golf equipment, although Heyman casts some doubt on the Nationals and Cubs as prospects. Heyman means that Washington is unlikely to spend on the stage essential to convey Soto again. He writes that Chicago’s offseason plans are extra geared in direction of pitching in the meanwhile.
Soto’s free company ought to carry for a number of weeks. USA Right now’s Bob Nightengale wrote this afternoon that the four-time All-Star plans to have an in-person assembly with the possession group of every crew making a critical pursuit.
