Bidding in the Juan Soto Derby is expected to hit baseball’s magic $700 million mark, with the heated competition that still pits five big-market teams and includes the Mets and incumbent Yankees nearing a historic end.
Bidding in the Juan Soto Derby is expected to hit baseball’s magic $700 million mark, with the heated competition that still pits five big-market teams and includes the Mets and incumbent Yankees nearing a historic end.
At least four teams — Mets, Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays — are thought to be at least in range of that record MLB figure, previously attained by only international superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Ohtani’s World Series champion Dodgers, interestingly enough, are one of five finalists believed behind in the bidding (but apparently not eliminated due to other obvious positives).
Soto’s goal going into the big winter sweepstakes was to identify a consistent winner who’d pay what he’s worth, which is turning out to be a lot, at least in the eyes of baseball’s key decision-makers.
It isn’t believed any team has separated themselves financially yet, which is making the decision difficult.
Plus, altered offers were said within the last day or two to still be coming in, which can complicate matters.
Soto is known to be patient, anyway (see his at-bats), and with all four high bidders carrying strong positives but also some negatives, it shouldn’t be a surprise he’s carefully weighing a decision that could affect his next 15 years (although, there will presumably be at least one opt-out no matter where he goes).
In the meantime, fans and even high-ranking executives are growing anxious, mostly about Soto but also about how they may pivot should he go elsewhere.
