"Only thing that will sway that clown is money" - Fans react to Phillies planning to get Juan Soto using ex-teammates Bryce Harper & Trea Turner

The offseason may have only begun, but the Juan Soto sweepstakes is already well underway. The outfielder enjoyed a tremendous season for the New York Yankees and will now be looking to turn their World Series run into one of the most lucrative contracts in MLB.

Naturally, a number of World Series contenders have been linked to the four-time All-Star, including the Yankees, New York Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, the Philadelphia Phillies have emerged as a possible candidate, and according to MLB insider Mark Feinsand, they think they might have an ace up their sleeve.

Feinsand reported that although a dark horse in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, the Phillies could use his connection to some of his former teammates as part of their pitch to sign him. As a member of the Washington Nationals, Soto played alongside Phillies stars Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber.

While it makes sense on paper that there could be a connection between Soto and the Phillies stars, fans are less than optimistic that it is a realistic play. Some fans feel that money will likely be the biggest indicator of where he will sign, regardless of friendships.

"Lol the only thing that will sway that greedy dancing clown is money," one fan posted.

Comment byu/JerichoRiley from discussion inbaseball

"Lol heartstrings. try purse strings instead," another shared on Reddit.

"The key to my heart is money too it turns out," one more fan shared.

It would be a bit surprising if the Phillies were able to secure Juan Soto for a long-term contract, given the number of sizable contracts already on the roster.

"Money's nice, but you know what's better? The power of friendship." Idk if that's the pitch they wanna go with, but let's see how it goes," a fan said.

Comment byu/JerichoRiley from discussion inbaseball

"Soto: "Yeah, Id love to play with you guys again! As long as you give me $600 million," another fan posted.

Juan Soto's next contract could reach a whopping $700 million

If the Philadelphia Phillies are going to be a serious contender, they will undoubtedly need to hand him one of the richest contracts in MLB history. While it was always known that Juan Soto was going to land a sizable contract, the number continues to rise, with some insiders believing that the outfielder could fetch a deal in the ballpark of $700 million.

Soto is represented by super agent Scott Boras, who is known for remaining patient until he lands the deal he is looking for. So, there is a chance that Soto's free agency will last long into the offseason as they look to secure as much money as possible.