Juan Soto Free Agency Buzz: Mets in play to land star thanks to Steve Cohen’s deep pockets

So far this winter, the Los Angeles Angels have been the only team to jump into the fray early and make significant roster additions. For the second year in a row, the baseball world waits for the premier player on the market, outfielder Juan Soto. And while a decision from Soto isn’t likely imminent, things could play out a little differently this season than last.
The biggest domino often has to fall to set the prices for the rest of the market, but unlike last year when Shohei Ohtani’s free agency decision froze the rest of the market, Soto is a different story. Only a few teams are in the running for his services and other teams that can’t afford a record-breaking contract, or just don’t want to pay $600 million over the next decade or more, still have to fill out their roster. General managers are expected to be aggressive in pursuing players after Thanksgiving and especially during the winter meetings, which begin Dec. 6 in Dallas.
While the Mets have stayed tight-lipped about their pursuit of the former Yankee, they’re still seen as the leaders in the clubhouse because of the amount of money they can spend. The team already met with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, in Southern California, and are believed to be one of the finalists, along with the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. Depending on which reports you believe, the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the running as well.
Reports have also indicated that teams will make initial offers with dollar amounts this week. This conflicts with the reports that have said the first round of meetings with Soto and Boras did not include money or term. But this time of year conflicting reports are expected.
If the Mets are, in fact, the preferred team of Soto, the question then becomes how much they are willing to spend on him. That’s a question only Steve Cohen and David Stearns can answer.
Soto is a generational hitter. He possesses exceptional plate discipline, rarely swinging at pitches outside of the zone. The left-handed hitter hits for average and power and uses all fields, with his insane bat speed allowing him to make contact. At only 26, the four-time All-Star and perennial MVP candidate is in the prime of his career. He won a World Series at just 20 years old with the Washington Nationals and a pennant with the Yankees at 25. Few players his age have his kind of offensive impact,
His one flaw is his defense. Soto might be a nightmare for opposing pitchers, but opposing hitters can exploit him in right field. He doesn’t have great range and takes questionable routes to fly balls.
The defensive miscues in the World Series allowed the Dodgers to capitalize and come back in Game 1. The Yankees never recovered.
Stearns places a high priority on run prevention. Soto’s -5 Outs Above Average doesn’t suggest that he prevents a lot of them. He would supplant Starling Marte in right field, who didn’t have his best defensive year, but showed that his arm is still as strong as it’s ever been. Signing Soto and moving Marte to a DH role could be an option, but Marte strongly prefers to play in the outfield every day, or nearly every day.
So again, the question becomes, how much are the Mets willing to spend on a player that doesn’t necessarily fit the profile of the players they typically look for. But then again, Stearns hasn’t had this much money at his disposal in the past. It’s his second offseason overseeing the Mets’ baseball operations efforts after having spent his entire career with two small-market clubs, the Houston Astros and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Little by little, we’re learning more about how Soto fits into the Mets’ plans and the larger offseason picture. But there are still more questions than answers a few weeks ahead of the winter meetings.
Sources say Soto will make a decision at some point this winter. Big, if true.