The 2024-25 Major League Baseball offseason has begun, and that means an almost daily supply of rumors regarding free agency, trades, and the like. With the General Managers Meetings ongoing, this week is no exception, even as we’re just dipping our toes into the hot stove season. Speaking of all that, Thursday’s supply of scuttle can be found just below.
Rays among Soto suitors
Juan Soto is of course the prize of the winter. This season for the Yankees, he slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and more walks than strikeouts. For his career, he owns an OPS+ of 160 and a WAR of 36.4. To boot, he’s exceedingly durable and still just 26 years of age. All of those considerations plus his substantial star power mean Soto may wind up inking a deal worth $600 million or more.
As for who’s willing to pay that substantial freight, the incumbent Yankees will of course be in the mix, and the crosstown Mets have long had eyes for Soto and are expected to be vigorous bidders. As for a big surprise within that early fray, Jon Heyman of the New York Post writes this: