The Los Angeles Dodgers might not sign the biggest-money free agent in back-to-back years, but they aren’t taking themselves out of the Juan Soto derby just yet.
As first reported by Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Dodgers and Soto will meet as early as Tuesday as the free agent outfielder continues his initial meetings with interested teams.
More news: Dodgers Will Consider Juan Soto in ‘Unlikely’ Event: Report
Alden Gonzalez of ESPN subsequently reported the meeting will take place Tuesday.
Sources: The Dodgers are meeting with Juan Soto tomorrow, as @Feinsand first reported.
Yes, it’d be absurd of them to follow a billion-dollar offseason with a $600M contract. But Shohei Ohtani’s first year in LA blew away all their financial projections. And they need an OF.
— Alden González (@Alden_Gonzalez) November 19, 2024
Soto has already reportedly met with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and New York Yankees in Southern California this month. Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, is based in Newport Beach.
The Dodgers defeated Soto and the New York Yankees in the World Series to capture their eighth championship. Soto became a free agent one day later after hitting a career-high 41 home runs and leading the American League in runs scored, at 128, in 2024.
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The 26-year-old outfielder had a productive World Series in the Yankees’ five-game loss, slashing .313/.522/.563 with a home run. The Yankees met with Soto on Monday, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Soto’s monster season was instrumental in the Yankees returning to the World Series for the first time since 2009. Batting ahead of probable Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge, Soto drove in 109 runs and reached base at a .419 clip in his first season in the Bronx.
More news: When Are The Yankees Meeting With Juan Soto?
Now, he is widely expected to command the most lucrative contract of any free agent this offseason — if not ever.
In Dec. 2023, the Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to the most lucrative contract ever given to a baseball player, at 10 years and $700 million. Their interest in Soto might not be as fervent as the Yankees, or the crosstown rival Mets, but they are reportedly interested enough to prepare a presentation.
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According to Jeff Passan of ESPN, “the Dodgers won’t chase after Soto — Ohtani’s presence at designated hitter would leave them with limited options should Soto’s defensive range force a move — but would gladly consider him in the unlikely event his market softens.”
Ohtani’s contract deferred all but $20 million in annual payouts until after the 2033 season, so its present-day value was calculated at $437,830,563 by the MLB Players’ Association. That might well be the number Boras asks the Dodgers, and all of Soto’s suitors, to beat.
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