It's a 10-year high of $600 million, and `Soto, Ohtani will surpass' veteran ML scout
Oct 20, 2024
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Bernie Plescope, who has been a scout for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners for a long time and is now writing a major league column for online and offline media, published a column titled 『New York Yankees Juan Soto scramble begins shortly after the World Series』 in Forbes, an economic magazine, on the 18th (Korea time).
Plescope believed Soto could surpass the all-time high of Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In a column, he said, `Soto, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on the 25th, will enjoy the recruitment battle between major league teams. Ohtani signed a huge 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers on December 12 last year, and Soto is three years younger than Ohtani at the time, and it is predicted that the Soto contract will be signed at around $600 million for 10 years. Furthermore, Soto could go beyond Otani's contract and become the highest-paid player in history.
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Plescope said, `The reason Soto can sign such a contract is because of his age, incredible talent, and many clubs that want him.' I believe there are four major league clubs that want Soto. Scott Boras predicted that the negotiations between Soto, his agent, are long and complicated, so it is likely to go on until next year.
The clubs Plescope picked to actively participate in the recruitment of Soto are the Yankees, the New York Mets, Dodgers, and San Francisco Giants.
Plesco explained the reasons and possibilities of each of these clubs wanting Soto.
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Aaron Judge - Juan Soto Duo is compared to Yankees legend Babe Ruth - Lou Gehrig Duo. Judge hit 58 home runs and Soto hit 41 home runs this year. Judge signed a nine-year, $360 million contract and receives an annual salary of $40 million (AAV). Gerrit Cole has an AAV of $36 million under a 9-year, $324 million contract. Carlos Rodon signed a six-year contract of $162 million ($AAV of $28 million) and Giancarlo Stanton signed a 13-year contract of $325 million ($AAV of $25 million).
Yankees offers could be made at a level that is not enough for Soto because of the Jersey, Cole, Rodon and Stanton contracts. Signing Soto may require you to raise the resources needed to maintain or improve your current roster.
▶New York Mets
Yankees rival Mets Soto may be the last piece needed to become the NL champion. However, Mets giant Pete Alonso will also become an FA. Alonso is also likely to sign a huge contract, with 37, 40, 46 and 34 home runs in the last four years. Mets owner Steve Cohen signed shortstop Francisco Lindor for $341 million for 10 years, Brandon Nemo for $162 million for eight years, and Edwin Diaz for five years, respectively.
But for Cohen, money doesn't matter. Cohen and President David Stearns believe the Mets will maintain their steeper team's ranks for years if Soto is secured. In addition, if Alonso remains.
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The Dodgers have never hesitated to recruit a superstar. Just imagine what it would be like if Soto came, boasting a strong lineup that led to Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, Teoscar Hernandez, Will Smith and Max Muncy.
Betts' $365 million contract ends in 2032, and Yamamoto Yoshinobu's $325 million ends in 2035. The AAV $27 million Freeman contract expires in 2027. This year, Smith signed a 10-year, $140 million contract and will play until 2033. The Dodgers will not be hindered from recruiting Soto due to money constraints.
▶San Francisco Giants
San Francisco had recently sought to sign Judge and Soto. With new president Buster Posey, Soto could consider the Giants as his next team. Matt Chapman's six-year, $151 million contract, the team's highest-paid player, will begin next year. Lee Jung-hoo signed a six-year, $113 million contract this year, and Logan Webb's $90 million contract is valid until 2028. Blake Snell has a $30 million player option at stake next year, and it remains to be seen whether it will be implemented or not. He also signed expensive long-term contracts with Jordan Hicks and Robbie Ray.
San Francisco, which currently has a payroll of just over $200 million, has room to recruit Soto.
jhno@sportschosun.com
