The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the many teams checking in on superstar outfielder Juan Soto in free agency.
Soto is expected to sign the largest contract in MLB history outside of Shohei Ohtani, and could very well surpass Ohtani’s present-day value due to the lack of deferrals.
Soto, at 26 years old, is one of the best free agents ever considering his age and skillset, and he is the undisputed prize of this free agent class.
While the Dodgers — who spent over $1 billion last offseason and won the 2024 World Series — are interested in Soto, according to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, they aren’t going to chase him like they did Ohtani.
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“The Dodgers won’t chase after Soto,” Passan wrote. “Ohtani’s presence at designated hitter would leave them with limited options should Soto’s defensive range force a move.”
However, he added the team would “gladly consider him in the unlikely event his market softens.”
It’s hard to imagine Soto’s market “softening” considering all the major-market teams will be in on him. The New York Yankees and New York Mets appear to be the front runners for Soto, and Mets owner Steve Cohen will almost certainly not be outbid for the generational talent that is Soto.
In addition to the New York teams, the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox have been linked to Soto, as have the San Francisco Giants, who have offered huge contracts to multiple superstars over the past couple offseasons.
While the Dodgers would love to add Soto to a roster that just won the World Series — knowing he would be here for the next decade-plus likely bringing more titles to Los Angeles — the team likely also feels they could spread that money around, filling their outfield need while also addressing the pitching.
Soto is coming off a 2024 season in which he slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. He had an OPS of .989 and an incredible OPS+ of 178. He also somehow got better in the postseason, slashing .327/.469/.633 with four home runs, nine RBIs, 14 walks to just nine strikeouts, and an OPS of 1.101.
Soto on the Dodgers would make up the most formidable top-four in MLB history with Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Soto, and Freddie Freeman. However, it seems more likely L.A. uses that money on a different outfield free agent — say Teoscar Hernández — while adding to a pitching staff that was ravaged by injuries in 2024.
