The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a free-agent offer to Juan Soto worth at least $600 million, according to MLB source Jon Heyman on a Bleacher Report live stream Friday.
Heyman claims the Dodgers have made a competitive offer to Soto. However, the other four teams have offered offers totaling roughly $700 million.
While Heyman labelled the Dodgers a “long shot” in the sweepstakes, he didn’t want to rule them out, as Soto might choose to sign with Los Angeles with opt-outs and have a fantastic chance to win a couple World Series titles before re-entering free agency.
Heyman reports that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox have all offered bids “in the ballpark” of $700 million over 15 years. If money is one of the primary motivators, Soto is likely to end up on one of those four teams.
The Dodgers’ pursuit of Soto demonstrates the front office’s aggressive approach this offseason.
One year after spending $1.4 billion—and only a month after winning the World Series—the Dodgers are, once again, looking for ways to improve, and doing so at the top of the market.
Soto is coming off a 2024 season in which he hit.288/.419/.569 with a career high 41 home runs and 109 RBI. He posted a wRC+ of 180 and a fWAR of 8.1, placing third in the American League MVP voting behind his teammate Aaron Judge and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr.
Soto, who is only 26 years old, is a generational talent who has the potential to change a franchise’s destiny on his own. Clearly, he will be compensated accordingly when a contract is concluded, which could happen within the next several days.
The Dodgers are presumably hoping Soto accepts their offer to win and then returns to free agency. If Soto declines to join the Dodgers, the team may consider re-signing Teoscar Hernández on a multiyear contract.
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