The biggest and best free agent this offseason is Juan Soto, but we all already knew that, right? He’s a generational talent on a Hall of Fame track and he’s only 26 years old. He’s already played on three different teams that have made it to the LCS round, winning a ring with the Nationals in 2019 and an AL pennant with the Yankees this past season. The wildest news of all is that by several measures, he’s coming off the best year of his career, so far.
There isn’t really much not to love.
Knowing that, every single team in Major League Baseball would have room for Soto. Of course, not all can afford him — whether they can actually afford him or ownership won’t allow it, it’s all the same for our purposes. For example, the Cubs absolutely could afford Soto and should want to add an actual star to their position-player pool, but instead they seem content to keep going for a roster with a bunch of average or pretty good players. So while they should make the list and would rank pretty high, the front office has shown is has no interest in doing such things and they are fired from the list. This isn’t the same as our landing spots rankings, which were about who has the best chance of earning the pleasure of employing Soto. This is about where he fits best.
The Mariners have only been to the playoffs one time since 2001, which happens to be the last time they won the AL West. They’ve also been a contender in each of the last four seasons, so Soto could be viewed as a move that helps put them over the top and that can be attractive to players. The Mariners have deep pockets and we’ve seen them show as much before, such as with the Robinson Cano signing. The lineup is rough and could use another left-handed hitter, too, making Soto a perfect fit.
Of course, we’ve had to demote them a few spots due to the consideration from Soto’s point of view. The Mariners play in an extreme pitcher’s park. That’s never an ideal fit for his type of profile.
Similar to Seattle, the Giants play in a pitcher-friendly yard and though it isn’t as extreme, it’s much tougher on lefties than righties. That means the Giants are already starting a bit behind here. It is a high-profile organization with plenty of success in the recent past and that is possibly a plus.
As for the fit, the Giants would like to contend and could sure use some extra thunder in the middle of the lineup. There’s a fit either in right or left field, depending on how they wanted to slot Soto with Mike Yastrzemski.
The Giants reportedly don’t have a ton of extra payroll room this offseason, but they could make Soto fit financially.
The Red Sox were 81-81 last season. Perhaps it’s time to stop acting like a middle-market team and start getting back to being the Red Sox from the 2000s and 2010s. They have two stars atop the lineup in Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, but there’s no way that should ever prevent a team from trying to grab a Soto-type talent.
Soto’s fit in Fenway Park is beautiful: Down the right-field line is a nice target and he’d get a bunch of Green Monster doubles in addition to opposite-field home runs.
Signing Soto would also be a bonus in that it takes him away from the Yankees.
I do wonder about the allocation of resources, of course. They are so left-handed in the lineup with Duran and Devers and Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu. Also, their needs lie elsewhere than outfield.
Still, it’s Juan Freaking Soto.
Outside of Dodgers fans, this would not be well received at all, but the World Series champions absolutely are a fit for Soto. They’ve already stated that Mookie Betts is moving back to the infield, which leaves an opening in right field. Just imagine a lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Soto, Betts and Freddie Freeman.
We know the Dodgers have the financial might to pull off such a move.
I’m also not putting them higher because I believe their resources would be better served to grab pitching, a shortstop — an actual shortstop, not moving a right fielder there — and then just bringing back Teoscar Hernández with what is left in their coffers.
It’s also possible I have them too low.
The Jays had enough money set aside that they were realistic suitors for Shohei Ohtani. Toronto is in the third-biggest metro area in baseball after New York and Los Angeles. They’d have to shuffle the outfield a bit to fit Soto, but that’s what you do for a player of his caliber. And he wouldn’t be entering a totally hopeless situation. Sure, the Blue Jays only won 74 games last year, but so much went wrong and there are reasons to believe they’ll be better next time around even without Soto.
For more, I’ve already laid out the Blue Jays’ case.
5. Washington Nationals
The Nats shipped Soto away as they were embarking on a rebuild, so what better way to signify it’s time to contend again than to bring him back? They have some exciting young players like James Wood, Dylan Crews, CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr.
Juan Soto could be the missing piece that elevates the next Nationals contender to the top tier of teams. His experience in playoff battles as a veteran superstar would bring a valuable dynamic to the team. While the Nationals’ quick turnaround next season is not guaranteed, adding Soto to the lineup would undoubtedly boost their chances.
One potential landing spot for Soto is with the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite having several high-priced stars and power hitters already on the roster, there is always room for more talent. Soto could easily slide into the right field position, allowing Nick Castellanos to shift to left field. This move would strengthen the Phillies’ outfield and provide a significant offensive threat in their lineup.
Another intriguing option for Soto could be the Baltimore Orioles. With their best power hitter Anthony Santander now a free agent, there is a natural opening for Soto to step in. The Orioles have a predominantly left-handed lineup, making Soto’s right-handed bat a valuable addition. Additionally, the Orioles have payroll flexibility and could afford to sign Soto, especially with new ownership willing to invest in the team.
While the Orioles may have a greater need for pitching, adding a superstar like Soto could elevate the team’s overall competitiveness. Soto’s presence in the lineup could also allow the Orioles to trade some of their position-playing prospects for pitching help, balancing out their roster.
The New York Mets could also be a strong contender for Soto’s services. Despite making a deep playoff run, the Mets have some uncertainty in their outfield and could benefit from Soto’s offensive production. Soto would complement the existing lineup well and help solidify the Mets as a force to be reckoned with in the National League.
Ultimately, Soto’s decision may come down to which team offers the best fit and financial package. While the New York teams present compelling options, the Nationals and Blue Jays are also in the mix. Wherever Soto lands, his impact on the team’s success could be significant, making him a sought-after free agent in the upcoming offseason. sentence to make it more concise:
Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Let us know if you have any questions or concerns.