When the New York Yankees acquired Juan Soto, it was understood that there were few guarantees beyond the 2024 season. Soto, in the final year of his contract and expected to command over $600 million on the open market, could easily leave after just one season in New York.
Soto is represented by Scott Boras, who is known for securing the highest possible deals for his clients in free agency. The Yankees are a dominant force in the AL East, and Soto seems to be enjoying his time with the team. He’s likely to receive MVP votes, and the Yankees are poised to make a strong playoff run. However, none of that will matter if the Yankees can’t offer a substantial contract in the coming months. Several teams, including the New York Mets with Steve Cohen’s deep pockets, the Philadelphia Phillies who are not shy about expensive contracts, and even the San Diego Padres, are already linked to Soto. And, in what would be a dramatic twist, the Los Angeles Dodgers are likely to enter the bidding as well.
Jon Heyman of the New York Post gives the Yankees a fair chance of retaining Soto. While the Yankees don’t have the deepest pockets, they aren’t known for being frugal either. Soto is an exceptional talent with many years of elite performance ahead of him, so it’s only natural that the Yankees will do everything possible to keep him.
However, if Soto does leave, it’s intriguing to imagine him landing with a surprise team. On MLB Network, Mark DeRosa suggested a potential destination that would shock baseball fans and shift the power dynamics in interesting ways: What if Soto returned to where it all began?
Juan Soto could potentially return to the Nationals in what would be the ultimate free agency twist. The Washington Nationals are making strides in the National League, and when Mike Rizzo traded Soto years ago, he received a wealth of prospects in return, effectively rebuilding Washington’s lineup with players like C.J. Abrams and James Wood, and adding significant pitching talent.
Now, just as the benefits of the Soto trade are starting to materialize, the Nationals have a genuine opportunity to pitch the idea of a reunion to Soto. While it’s uncertain how Soto would respond, he’s familiar with Nationals Park, and there’s a certain poetic allure to the idea of a reunion. Despite being 13 games below .500 this season, the Nationals would face an uphill battle. They don’t have the spending power of the New York teams or the Dodgers, nor can they boast the same level of recent competitiveness. There’s potential in the team, but no concrete evidence that they’re close to a World Series run. Rizzo and the front office would need to make a monumental effort, including an unprecedented contract offer, to bring Soto back to Washington.
But you can never rule it out. The existing connection between Soto and the Nationals reduces the uncertainty he might feel with other teams like the Mets or Phillies. Familiarity can often be an underrated factor in free agent decisions.