Three of the teams in this year’s league championship series are expected to be major players in the Juan Soto free agent sweepstakes this winter: his current team, the New York Yankees, the crosstown rival New York Mets, and the West Coast behemoth Los Angeles Dodgers. The Cleveland Guardians are also playing in the LCS. With MLB’s final four on center stage this week, we figured we’d give them the chance to make a preemptive pitch to this offseason’s soon-to-be most sought-after superstar.
Let’s start with the New York Yankees. Soto has previously mentioned the franchise’s history and winning a World Series title to cement his place in it. Imagine what winning multiple championships would do for him. The Yankees have the money to sustain a winner and the brand to attract talent. Soto has had a taste of the intense fan base in the Bronx and can make it a forever home.
Moving on to the New York Mets, they have been to a World Series more recently than the Yankees and have a significant amount of money coming off the books after this season. Signing with the Mets would electrify the fan base and could make Soto the most beloved Met of all time. The Mets are expected to offer Soto the most money this winter, potentially surpassing what the Yankees can offer.
In Los Angeles, the Dodgers offer a unique experience. Soto can play alongside some of the best players in the world and carve out a legacy for a historic franchise. However, the distance from his home country and the familiarity with the East Coast could be factors to consider.
Finally, the Cleveland Guardians may seem like a long shot, but they offer Soto the opportunity to be a superstar with the anonymity of living in a Midwest city. The pressure in Cleveland may not be as overwhelming as in New York or LA, and Soto could be part of a winning team with the chance to lead them to a World Series title.
In the end, Soto will have to weigh his options carefully and consider what factors are most important to him. Whether it’s the history and tradition of the Yankees, the potential financial offer from the Mets, the star-studded lineup of the Dodgers, or the opportunity to be a franchise player in Cleveland, the decision will ultimately come down to where Soto sees himself thriving both on and off the field.
