The Dodgers are poised to turn into the newest membership to satisfy with celebrity free agent Juan Soto, per a report from MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand earlier this night. The assembly between the edges is scheduled for tomorrow. The Dodgers will be a part of the Yankees, Mets, Pink Sox, and Blue Jays in having met with Soto already, though Feinsand additionally studies that an undisclosed group along with that group has already met with Soto as nicely. The Giants, Phillies, and Rays are among the many groups recognized to have curiosity in Soto that haven’t but had a publicly reported assembly with the star outfielder.
That Soto and the Dodgers have a gathering arrange is an fascinating improvement given the considerably combined studies concerning the membership’s plans concerning the celebrity. Earlier studies have indicated whereas L.A. intends to be considerably concerned in Soto’s free company, these studies have additionally cautioned the membership is probably not as aggressive as different suitors. That comparatively cautious strategy to Soto on the Dodgers’ half might be no less than partially on account of questions concerning whether or not or not Soto, who hails from the Dominican Republic and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, prefers to play on the east coast. Notably, Jon Heyman of the New York Submit studies this night that sources near Soto have “downplayed” that rumored geographic presence, suggesting that Soto beforehand loved dwelling on the west coast whereas he performed for the Padres.
It’s not possible to know the place Soto’s geographic preferences lie, however Soto has emphasised in feedback to reporters that successful is a precedence for him, to the purpose of reportedly asking the Pink Sox throughout his assembly with membership officers in regards to the group’s dedication to successful. If successful is a precedence for Soto, it’s laborious to argue in opposition to the Dodgers. The reigning World Collection champions have made the postseason in twelve consecutive seasons, and since 2017 have averaged greater than 102 wins per yr (excluding the 60-game 2020 season the place they went 43-17 and gained the World Collection) whereas gathering two extra NL pennants along with their World Collection championships. Final winter, the membership added possible Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow to a formidable core of expertise that already included Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. Los Angeles figures to stay a juggernaut within the NL for years to return, and the addition of Soto to their already vaunted lineup would solely reinforce that.
Given his elite expertise, any membership would have the ability to discover a place for Soto of their lineup. With that being stated, it’s significantly straightforward to see how Soto would match into the Dodgers’ plans. With Mookie Betts anticipated to maneuver again into the infield for the 2025 season, the membership may look to make a number of additions to an outfield combine that presently consists of solely utility man Tommy Edman and teen Andy Pages as potential on a regular basis choices. Even when the membership wished to reunite with free agent slugger Teoscar Hernandez as has been beforehand rumored, it’s straightforward to think about the pair manning the nook outfield spots for the Dodgers with Edman as the first heart fielder whereas Pages backs up the beginning trio and fills in for Edman on days he strikes to the infield.
Financially, as mind-boggling as it could be to think about the Dodgers inking Soto to a contract price greater than half a billion {dollars} only one yr after committing greater than a billion to Ohtani and Yamamoto amid final winter’s spending spree, the deferred construction of Ohtani’s contract may make such an expenditure extra cheap. The membership’s payroll for 2025 is at the moment projected at $276MM, in line with RosterResource. That clocks in $50MM under the membership’s 2024 payroll, opening a transparent pathway to including Soto even at a record-setting common annual worth. That wouldn’t go away a lot room for much-needed rotation upgrades or additional offensive additions akin to a reunion with Hernandez, however ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez notes that the worth of Ohtani’s first season in L.A. “blew away” the membership’s monetary projections. On condition that actuality, it’s definitely not not possible to think about the membership having much more payroll house at their disposal than returning to the extent that left them with the second-highest payroll in baseball final yr.
No matter what membership Soto finally finally ends up with, Feinsand goes on to report a perception across the league {that a} resolution might be made within the close to future. Particularly, Feinsand means that whereas Soto isn’t anticipated to signal previous to Thanksgiving, the “feeling across the league” is that the 26-year-old may land someplace previous to the Winter Conferences with one government suggesting to him that it could be a shock if he hasn’t signed earlier than the tip of the Conferences on December 12. With the Winter Conferences only a month away and no group reported to have a lot as made a proper supply to Soto but, it’s doable that the winter’s prime free agent may see his market start to maneuver shortly after the approaching vacation.
