Juan Soto’s 5 biggest suitors, ranked as MLB free agency heats up

The 2025 Major League Baseball season begins in earnest this weekend, as the biggest names in the sport descend upon Dallas for the Winter Meetings.

Similar to a season ago, one free agent is primed to dominate the discussions. Last year it was superstar Shohei Ohtani, who ended up resetting the market with a staggering contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers after several teams sought his signature on a contract a year ago.

This year? The player everyone is chasing is Juan Soto, who is set to test free agency after his first season in the Bronx with the New York Yankees.

A few weeks ago, we put the potential teams interested in Soto into tiers. Now that the Winter Meetings are upon us, it is time to sort through the rumors and highlight the teams most likely to sign him for next year. Here are the five teams most likely to sign Soto, ranked.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

A year ago the Dodgers made the biggest splash, inking Ohtani to a ten-year, $700 million deal. While the bulk of that money was deferred to the years after the length of the contract with the Dodgers, that contract reset expectations for the next crop of free agents.

Could Los Angeles make another massive signing, a year after inking Ohtani to that deal, weeks after winning a World Series, and days after signing pitcher Blake Snell and infielder Tommy Edman to big deals (albeit with additional deferred money)?

It is possible, and one does not count the Dodgers out until Soto’s introductory press conference where he is holding a different jersey. But reporting indicates that Soto is looking to stay on the East Coast, closer to the Dominican Republic.

Los Angeles may be in on Soto from a financial perspective, but some of the logistics make them a long shot among this group of favorites.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

Last year the Toronto Blue Jays were one of the teams in the Ohtani Sweepstakes until the end. Toronto even met with Ohtani at their spring training facility in Florida, before the superstar selected the Dodgers.

“We were obviously very disappointed with the outcome, and it was a very difficult phone call to receive, one of the more difficult ones in my career,” Toronto general manager Ross Atkins said at the time. “At the same time, [it was an] incredible process and group effort and collaboration that I feel so good about, not only that process but what it meant to be in that position for the organization, for the city, for the country. There’s no doubt in my mind he was exceptionally attracted to this country, this city, this team. We felt incredible about the process, but we moved on.”

A year later, the Blue Jays are one of the teams again pursuing the biggest name in free agency.

According to MLB insider Héctor Gómez, the team has increased their pitch to Soto, as rumors of contract offers swirl ahead of the MLB Winter Meetings:

This matches similar reporting that the Blue Jays — who reportedly matched the Dodgers’ offer to Ohtani a year ago — will end up offering the biggest contract to Soto this winter.

Still, while money will be a factor it remains to be seen if the contract alone will be enough to entice Soto to play in Toronto. The Blue Jays finished last in the AL East a season ago, and face questions about retaining two of their current stars, first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and shortstop Bo Bichette, both of whom can hit free agency after 2025. If signing Soto reduces the likelihood that Toronto can keep both Guerrero and Bichette, that might pose a hurdle. Then there are the logistical concerns, along with the exchange rate issue that posed a problem a year ago with Ohtani.

Toronto may go bold again, but some hurdles prevent them from being higher on this list.

3. Boston Red Sox

Does the Red Sox homer in me think Boston can be even higher on this list?

Absolutely, and there are reasons to think the Red Sox could ultimately land Soto’s services.

For one, the organization knows that it is time to make a big move to satisfy a fan base that has grown disillusioned these past few seasons. After seeing Mookie Betts leave town, Red Sox fans have been clamoring for a move like this, and while the organization has done a good job at rebuilding the farm organization, adding Soto would be a huge boost to improving the roster.

Then there is the fit in Fenway Park. Similar to the discussions a year ago around Soto playing at Yankee Stadium, Soto wrapping home runs around Pesky Pole and the short right-field line might be enticing.

Then there is the chance to rip double after double off the Green Monster in left field.

In addition, there is reporting from MLB.com Red Sox insider Ian Browne that the organization is tapping into some of their most famous faces, including David Ortiz, in their recruitment of Soto.

“Everybody wants a piece of him,” said Ortiz to MLB.com recently. “That’s the man of the hour. The Sox, we are trying to do our job, trying to get him on board. We are trying to get him … I’m going to do my job as best I can and see if we can get him on our squad, but the front office is ready. They’re ready to pay him.”

Boston is not in this for show.

But then again, neither are the two New York teams.

2. New York Yankees

In one season with the New York Yankees Juan Soto returned to the World Series, hit his 200th career home run — becoming the seventh-fastest player in MLB history to reach that milestone — and finished the playoffs with a .327/.469/.633 slash line, along with four home runs.

Would he possibly leave that behind for greener pastures? And are there such greener pastures available?

The pitch to Soto for staying in the Bronx is simple: “We will always be competitive, you just played in a World Series, Yankee Stadium is a perfect fit for your bat, and you’ll be hitting around Aaron Judge for years to come. Stay with us and your next destination is Cooperstown.”

That alone should be enough. But when you factor in the fact that — if rankings such as these are a true reflection of where things stand in the Soto Sweepstakes — the Yankees’ two rivals in this chase are the hated Red Sox, and the cross-town Mets, it is hard to see Hal Steinbrenner and company losing.

1. New York Mets

All the reporting around Soto’s free agency begins with one central thesis.

Steve Cohen and the Mets are going to have the highest bid.

If it simply comes down to money, Soto might land in Queens with the Mets.

There is also another selling point: While both Fenway Park and Yankee Stadium might fit Soto’s swing, Citi Field has also been fertile ground for the left-handed slugger. In 35 games at Citi Field Soto has posted a slash line of .333/.466/.709 with 12 home runs, for an OPS of 1.175.

Among ballparks with at least 20 games under his best, that is the best OPS at a given park Soto has enjoyed in his career. Better than both Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium. (Soto has played just 12 games at the Rogers Centre, and only nine at Fenway Park).

That combination might be enough to entice him to Queens.