Juan Soto, a perennial future Hall of Famer, is poised to enter free agency following the conclusion of the 2024 season. Starting his career with the Washington Nationals, Juan Soto has been a key figure in the baseball world, being involved in two blockbuster trades to the San Diego Padres and the New York Yankees. Despite being only 25 years old, he has already amassed nearly a decade of experience in the majors. After turning down a $440 million deal from the Nationals in 2022 Juan Soto is looked at to have a serious payday this offseason. With Shohei Ohtani amassing over $700 million from the LA Dodgers last season it is not out of reach for Soto to achieve a $500+ million deal and with everyone having their eyes on the young sensation money will be the main deciding factor.

Rejecting a $440 million deal is a bold move but Soto is a generational talent who is following the same young career surge as Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera both who will be inducted in the HOF in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Soto already has the most walks by a player 25 years or younger, beating out Mel Ott’s (540) with 668 walks is incredible he is not slowing down anytime soon and he completed this in 150 less games than Ott. Aside his masterful patience at the plate he is also a 3* all star, 4* silver slugger, 1* HR Derby Champ and a 2019 World Series champ and a 2020 batting title. And soon to add to his credentials is the 2024 AL MVP if he keeps up this insane trajectory. Soto already amassed a 1.9 BWAR through 42 games this season with the Yankees and holds a league leading OBP% of .414%, SLG% .514% and OPS of .951 for an OPS+ 71% above league average (100). If Juan Soto keeps this up for the full 162 games he could have a stat line of 131 RBIS, 34 homeruns, 192 hits and 108 walks. A typical season for Soto but something that could be truly the season he needs to get to then finish line and end the season as the best hitter in the AL.

It’s always intriguing to speculate on the future of players like Juan Soto, especially regarding their contract negotiations and priorities. While there may be speculation about Soto seeking a significant contract, whether it’s in the realm of $500 million or not, it’s important to remember that players often weigh various factors beyond just financial compensation. While financial security is undoubtedly crucial, many players also value factors such as team competitiveness, market size, and personal fulfillment. Soto’s decision will likely be influenced by a combination of factors, including his desire to win, his relationship with the team and its management, the opportunities for endorsement deals, and the overall direction of the franchise. Ultimately, only time will tell how Soto prioritizes these considerations in his career decisions.

The trend of escalating player salaries and endorsement deals in baseball is indeed noteworthy, with players like Shohei Ohtani setting new benchmarks for compensation. The pursuit of higher paydays can sometimes overshadow other aspects of the game, but it’s also a reflection of the value that these players bring to their teams and the sport as a whole.

Juan Soto’s current salary of $30 million for the year puts him in a similar financial bracket to Ohtani, and it will be intriguing to see how his career trajectory and negotiations play out in comparison. As the landscape of baseball contracts continues to evolve, Soto’s eventual contract negotiations will likely be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, offering insights into the shifting dynamics of player compensation in the sport.

The race for Juan Soto seems to narrow down to just two teams: both based in New York. The Yankees and the Mets. Which team is more deserving of Soto but most importantly which team does Soto truly value more for the success and betterment of himself as a player. What would be the true turning point of Soto’s success in New York and which team can provide the best. These are the questions that need answers towards. If the season ended today Soto would be the unanimous MVP for the Yankees and would have his best season (lengthened to a full 162) except for the shortened 2020 season. With that regard Soto has already been adjusted to the harsh environment of the Bronx and winning MVP in his first season in pinstripes only gives more hope for the success Soto could have over a 10+ year span with the club. If the success of Soto this season is extremely prominent than how much is the value of Steve Cohen’s checkbook really going to be worth at that point when Soto knows he can still get the same financial treatment with the Yankees.

It wouldn’t also be a surprise for Juan Soto to use both clubs to leverage his overall contract earnings. The Mets have been victim of the old contract leverage before with recent exploits of Steve Cohen were highlighted with Japanese pitcher Yoshinubo Yamamoto and manager Craig Counsel making the belief that they are interested in signing with the team only to find out it was all apart of their plan to leverage the rest of the MLB to reward them with a fatter paycheck.

The Mets year in year out always shoot for the best but succeed far lower than expectations making them an unlikely team best fit for Juan Soto’s talent based off of past failures. However you must speak positively and understand a course of one off season can put a team on the necessary track for greatness. Just look at the Texas Rangers spending close to a billion dollars in the 2021-2022 offseason and watching it pay dividends as their 2023 world series banner hangs down as one of their greatest accomplishments. But you can also examine teams such as the 2023 Mets who spent $800 million and failed to maintain a record over .500 for the majority of the season ending their season with embarrassment and humility as they trek for 2024. The Mets’ recent winning streak has perpetrated a renewed sense of hope among their fans for a successful season. For a player of Soto’s caliber dreaming of immediate success isn’t something many believe Queens is the place of desire. But then again the past is the past and a player cannot make their decision entirely based off the scrutiny of a team’s past mistakes.

Juan Soto, a perennial future Hall of Famer, is poised to enter free agency following the conclusion of the 2024 season. Starting his career with the Washington Nationals, Juan Soto has been a key figure in the baseball world, being involved in two blockbuster trades to the San Diego Padres and the New York Yankees. Despite being only 25 years old, he has already amassed nearly a decade of experience in the majors. After turning down a $440 million deal from the Nationals in 2022 Juan Soto is looked at to have a serious payday this offseason. With Shohei Ohtani amassing over $700 million from the LA Dodgers last season it is not out of reach for Soto to achieve a $500+ million deal and with everyone having their eyes on the young sensation money will be the main deciding factor.

Rejecting a $440 million deal is a bold move but Soto is a generational talent who is following the same young career surge as Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera both who will be inducted in the HOF in 2027 and 2028 respectively. Soto already has the most walks by a player 25 years or younger, beating out Mel Ott’s (540) with 668 walks is incredible he is not slowing down anytime soon and he completed this in 150 less games than Ott. Aside his masterful patience at the plate he is also a 3* all star, 4* silver slugger, 1* HR Derby Champ and a 2019 World Series champ and a 2020 batting title. And soon to add to his credentials is the 2024 AL MVP if he keeps up this insane trajectory. Soto already amassed a 1.9 BWAR through 42 games this season with the Yankees and holds a league leading OBP% of .414%, SLG% .514% and OPS of .951 for an OPS+ 71% above league average (100). If Juan Soto keeps this up for the full 162 games he could have a stat line of 131 RBIS, 34 homeruns, 192 hits and 108 walks. A typical season for Soto but something that could be truly the season he needs to get to then finish line and end the season as the best hitter in the AL.

It’s always intriguing to speculate on the future of players like Juan Soto, especially regarding their contract negotiations and priorities. While there may be speculation about Soto seeking a significant contract, whether it’s in the realm of $500 million or not, it’s important to remember that players often weigh various factors beyond just financial compensation. While financial security is undoubtedly crucial, many players also value factors such as team competitiveness, market size, and personal fulfillment. Soto’s decision will likely be influenced by a combination of factors, including his desire to win, his relationship with the team and its management, the opportunities for endorsement deals, and the overall direction of the franchise. Ultimately, only time will tell how Soto prioritizes these considerations in his career decisions.

The trend of escalating player salaries and endorsement deals in baseball is indeed noteworthy, with players like Shohei Ohtani setting new benchmarks for compensation. The pursuit of higher paydays can sometimes overshadow other aspects of the game, but it’s also a reflection of the value that these players bring to their teams and the sport as a whole.

Juan Soto’s current salary of $30 million for the year puts him in a similar financial bracket to Ohtani, and it will be intriguing to see how his career trajectory and negotiations play out in comparison. As the landscape of baseball contracts continues to evolve, Soto’s eventual contract negotiations will likely be closely watched by fans and analysts alike, offering insights into the shifting dynamics of player compensation in the sport.

The race for Juan Soto seems to narrow down to just two teams: both based in New York. The Yankees and the Mets. Which team is more deserving of Soto but most importantly which team does Soto truly value more for the success and betterment of himself as a player. What would be the true turning point of Soto’s success in New York and which team can provide the best. These are the questions that need answers towards. If the season ended today Soto would be the unanimous MVP for the Yankees and would have his best season (lengthened to a full 162) except for the shortened 2020 season. With that regard Soto has already been adjusted to the harsh environment of the Bronx and winning MVP in his first season in pinstripes only gives more hope for the success Soto could have over a 10+ year span with the club. If the success of Soto this season is extremely prominent than how much is the value of Steve Cohen’s checkbook really going to be worth at that point when Soto knows he can still get the same financial treatment with the Yankees.

It wouldn’t also be a surprise for Juan Soto to use both clubs to leverage his overall contract earnings. The Mets have been victim of the old contract leverage before with recent exploits of Steve Cohen were highlighted with Japanese pitcher Yoshinubo Yamamoto and manager Craig Counsel making the belief that they are interested in signing with the team only to find out it was all apart of their plan to leverage the rest of the MLB to reward them with a fatter paycheck.

The Mets year in year out always shoot for the best but succeed far lower than expectations making them an unlikely team best fit for Juan Soto’s talent based off of past failures. However you must speak positively and understand a course of one off season can put a team on the necessary track for greatness. Just look at the Texas Rangers spending close to a billion dollars in the 2021-2022 offseason and watching it pay dividends as their 2023 world series banner hangs down as one of their greatest accomplishments. But you can also examine teams such as the 2023 Mets who spent $800 million and failed to maintain a record over .500 for the majority of the season ending their season with embarrassment and humility as they trek for 2024. The Mets’ recent winning streak has perpetrated a renewed sense of hope among their fans for a successful season. For a player of Soto’s caliber dreaming of immediate success isn’t something many believe Queens is the place of desire. But then again the past is the past and a player cannot make their decision entirely based off the scrutiny of a team’s past mistakes.

In the end money can only do so much to change a players decision. If money is the key to happiness and an overall better life than why sign with a team that cannot provide that utter satisfaction for your wellbeing. I’ve seen it all and been through all the mistakes embarrassment and injuries of the Mets organization and it is rough to say the least. Not only are we a Major League Baseball team in New York, but we also serve as a compelling advertisement for the benefits of playing in the Big Apple and if our current players cannot play at league minimum than the overall attraction of signing in Queens is far alluring for the average player hitting the market. I would want Juan Soto more than the next guy would and I truly believe Steve Cohen can make that happen. The Mets are a place to grow and truly cement yourself as a star among regulars, its the place to make yourself the franchise icon instead of feeling like your playing in the shadows of the scary Bronx. Yes money is not everything but if you don’t want to play among belligerent self minded pinheads then go for it, Juan Soto is already on an impressive feat to achieve AL MVP in just his first year joining the pinstripes. The point is, Juan Soto is a businessman, and he and his agent will aim to secure the largest deal possible. If that deal isn’t with the mighty blue and orange for 2025 and beyond, I wish Soto the best and hope he continues on his fabulous Hall of Fame trajectory.