Juan Soto is set to become one of the most sought-after free agents this offseason after his one-year stint with the New York Yankees concludes. While the Yankees are expected to make a strong push to retain Soto—especially given his impact on the lineup and his popularity with teammates—several other teams are emerging as contenders for the star outfielder.
According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, the Los Angeles Dodgers are among the top teams expressing interest in Soto, adding to the intrigue as the Yankees and Dodgers currently face off in the World Series.
The Dodgers’ interest in Soto is fueled in part by their recent financial flexibility following Shohei Ohtani’s record-breaking 10-year, $680 million contract, which they structured with extensive deferrals.
This approach has lowered the annual salary cap hit to approximately $46.06 million, leaving the Dodgers with around $24 million in annual cap space—ample room to target a big name like Soto without compromising their roster balance.
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Soto’s 2024 season numbers underscore why he’s such an attractive asset. He posted a slash line of .288/.419/.569, tallying 166 hits, 128 runs, and 109 RBIs. His 41 home runs ranked fourth in the league, solidifying his reputation as one of baseball’s premier sluggers and a player capable of transforming any team’s offensive lineup.
Now in the World Series, Soto is focused on helping the Yankees stave off elimination, with the team down 0-2 and heading into Game 3 at Yankee Stadium on Monday night.
For the Dodgers, landing Soto would bolster an already potent lineup, pairing him alongside other star hitters and potentially setting the stage for another deep postseason run.
Their commitment to keeping competitive with rival teams like the Yankees makes Soto a perfect fit.
With the Yankees likely pushing hard to keep him and other teams potentially in the mix, Soto’s free agency promises to be one of the most closely watched storylines of the offseason.
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