The formidable partnership of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto has driven the New York Yankees to the top of the American League East and put them in contention for the best record in all of baseball. While Judge is signed with the Yankees through 2031, Soto will become a free agent at the end of this season. Approaching his 26th birthday in October, Soto is expected to attract numerous suitors willing to make a substantial financial offer. One sportsbook estimates his next contract could exceed $500.5 million. The Yankees are heavily favored to re-sign Soto, with odds suggesting an 80 percent chance he stays in New York. Nevertheless, several other major-market teams, including the Phillies, Red Sox, Cubs, and city rival Mets, are also likely to pursue him if he decides to leave the Yankees.
Entering Friday, Soto, now in his seventh MLB season, was hitting .291 with 37 home runs and 95 RBIs in 130 games. His OPS of 1.012 ranks third in the league. For his career, he holds a .285 average with 197 home runs and 578 RBIs across 909 games. When asked about his priorities as a free agent, Soto told The Athletic last month that he values being with a team that has a chance to win championships or remains competitive each year. While he’s expected to attract interest from several major-market teams, Soto also indicated he would consider joining a team ready to build around him. This could potentially include a return to the Nationals, where he spent the first four years of his career. The Nationals have odds of +2000 to re-sign him. Other teams likely to make competitive offers include the Blue Jays, who kept Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette at the trade deadline, and the Rangers and Astros, both of which benefit from Texas’s lack of a state income tax. Soto mentioned, You never know who will come next. I’ll aim to build a strong team around me to win a championship. Ultimately, I’ll evaluate the offers from these teams and decide from there.
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