Juan Soto Won’t Be Wearing Dodger Blue

Juan Soto is the most coveted free agent on the open market. This offseason, the 26-year-old superstar has the potential to sign the largest contract in baseball history. Soto’s free agency will be a story like none other this winter. There will be many teams in the mix who will try and sign the young once-in-a-generation star. Soto also reportedly wants to stay on the east coast. This means that the Juan Soto sweepstakes will come down to the Yankees or Mets signing him to a long-term contract. While the Los Angeles Dodgers have the money, Juan Soto won’t be wearing Dodger blue.

Most Exciting Free Agency Period To Date

Juan Soto is the most exciting free agent on the open market. Baseball hasn’t had an offseason filled with this much excitement since Bryce Harper and Manny Machado first became free agents. Given how much he’s accomplished, it’s easy to forget that Soto is only 26 years old. The young superstar has already been an all-star four times, earned three silver-slugger awards, and won a batting title and World Series championship. Last season with the Yankees, he set new career highs in hits, runs, homers, and RBI. The young star is set to become potentially the highest-paid player in baseball history.

Mookie Betts Moving Back To The Infield Sparked This Rumor

The Los Angeles Dodgers recently announced that Mookie Betts would be moved back to the infield. He had spent parts of last season playing right field after returning from a hand injury. With Betts moving back to the infield and Teoscar Hernandez currently a free agent, this opens up a spot in right field, and it also happens to be Juan Soto’s primary position. Naturally, this caused the rumor mill to swirl that Los Angeles was going to pursue Soto seriously. While the Dodgers will at least explore the opportunity, however, this rumor isn’t coming true.

Andrew Friedman Would Rather Not Deal With Scott Boras

If you look at the Dodgers’ current roster, there are only two players on it who are represented by Soto’s agent Scott Boras. Those players are relief pitchers Michael Kopech and Brusdar Graterol. Kopech has one final year of arbitration remaining before he’s eligible for free agency. Meanwhile, Graterol has two more controllable years left before he can hit the open market. Baseball Operation Head Andrew Friedman has also made it obvious that he’d rather not deal with Scott Boras. Friedman has let stars Corey Seager, Cody Bellinger, Max Scherzer, and others sign large free-agent contracts elsewhere. Given how successful the Dodgers have been without having to go after a Boras free agent, I don’t see them shifting from that philosophy just to sign Juan Soto.

There Are Cheaper Outfield Options Available

While the Dodgers like to spend money, Friedman also knows how to be disciplined. The team can easily sign Teoscar Hernandez for significantly less money than it would cost them to get Soto. Hernandez had a great year slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs, 99 RBI, and a .840 OPS. The 32-year-old was also an all-star for the second time in his career. While Hernandez had a great regular season, his performance in the playoffs was one to remember as well. In the World Series, Hernandez hit .350 with a home run and four RBI helping the Dodgers to a championship triumph. Teoscar Hernandez has also explicitly said that he’d prefer to re-sign with the team for 2025.

The Dodgers currently have the fifth-best farm system in the entire league. Outfielders Dalton Rushing and Josue De Paula are ranked 39^th and 48^th respectively in baseball’s top 100 prospects list. While De Paula won’t be ready for the show until 2026, Rushing is projected to be big-league-ready this season. The Dodgers’ two other outfield spots are already set with Tommy Edman and Andy Pages, signing Soto would block Rushing. Whenever a prospect is ranked as high as Rushing is, it means that the team has high hopes for them. Most of the time, they are off-limits to clubs that are interested in trading for them.

Dodger Fans Shouldn’t Believe Every Offseason Rumor

While the Dodgers seemingly sign every top-free agent available, Juan Soto won’t be one of them. Los Angeles can sign Teoscar Hernandez for significantly less money or promote top-prospect Dalton Rushing to the big leagues. Andrew Frieman would also rather not deal with Scott Boras. Soto may be on the open market, but I doubt Friedman is going to suddenly change his thinking. While Betts is going to be moved back to the infield, it doesn’t automatically mean Soto is coming to Los Angeles. The 26-year-old is said to prefer to remain on the east coast meaning the Yankees or Mets are the likely suitors. Given the slow nature of California, it might take Dodger fans a little more time than most to understand that concept. The fan base is better off accepting this reality now before being disappointed.

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