Even though the World Series has yet to be played, the pending unrestricted free agency of Juan Soto is something that remains a priority for his team, and others around the league. The New York Yankees outfielder has continued to prove why he is one of the best players in the world, something that he will undoubtedly be rewarded for when the offseason begins.
The number that Juan Soto will eventually agree to is one of the biggest questions heading into the offseason; however, the one clear thing is that he will command one of the richest deals in MLB history. Thanks to the record-breaking contract that Shohei Ohtani signed last offseason, Soto could have the next megadeal.
According to MLB insider Jon Heyman on Thursday, Soto could sign a contract amounting to $600,000,000. This may sound like an outrageous number to some, but there is a realistic chance that he could reach a deal in that range.
"Juan Soto sweepstakes, I think at this point it's going to be $600 million," Heyman said, via Bleacher Report.
Given Soto's track record throughout his career, as well as the fact that he is only 25 years old, he is primed to be one of the most sought-after free agents in history.
I know that number has been floated out there," Heyman added. "I think I've floated out $500 million... That's kind of been the number for the last year or so with Soto after turned down the $440 million. I think $600 million at this point is probably the number."
There will be several interesting hitters who could be available on the open market, including Pete Alonso and Paul Goldschmidt, but Soto will be the number one target for clubs with the money to pursue him.
Several clubs have been linked to Juan Soto all season
Unsurprisingly, the New York Yankees have already announced that they are interested in bringing Soto back. Despite having a chance to win the World Series this season, that does not guarantee that he will lower his asking price to stay.
If he opts to explore the open market to secure the maximum amount possible, there have been a few teams mentioned in rumors to be in the mix, including the New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, Washington Nationals and Toronto Blue Jays.