Report: Phillies listed as 1 of 5 teams that are expected to make a push for Juan Soto this offseason

Juan Soto to the Philadelphia Phillies? I know it’s hard to even think about that when Cristopher Sanchez is delivering dominant performances at Citizens Bank Park over the weekend and JT Realmuto is walking it off on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with just 13 games remaining in the 2024 MLB season, however people are talking.

The Phillies secured a 2-1 walk-off win over the Mets on Sunday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park. J.T. Realmuto came through in the clutch, lining a two-out single to right-center off Mets closer Edwin Díaz, scoring Nick Castellanos from second base to secure the victory.

JT Realmuto Walks It Off vs New York Mets

JT REALMUTO. RING IT. pic.twitter.com/TLwb8JOFoB

— The Liberty Line (@LibertyLinePHL) September 15, 2024

With the win, the Phillies improved to 90-59 on the season. They are 7-3 over their last 10 games lead both the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves by nine games in the NL East standings.

In the National League and all of Major League Baseball, the Phillies hold the best record with a two game advantage over the Los Angeles Dodgers. They lead the third place New York Yankees by 3.5 games and the fourth place Milwaukee Brewers by three games.

The Phillies are cruising at the top of the NL East, holding a 9-game lead over both the Mets and Braves. With playoff odds at 100% and a 99.9% chance to win the division, Philadelphia is on the verge of securing their spot in the postseason.

Here’s the Phillies’ tiebreaker situation:

• Win tiebreaker vs: Dodgers, Padres
• Lose tiebreaker vs: D-backs, Braves
• Tiebreaker TBD vs: Brewers (3-0, 3 games remaining), Mets (6-3, 4 games remaining

MLB Postseason: Where every contending team in the National League stands with only 13 games remaining >>

The Phillies hold a crucial tiebreaker over the Dodgers and will clinch the tiebreaker against the Brewers with just one win in their upcoming three-game series from Monday to Wednesday. Meanwhile, they still have four games remaining against the Mets, with whom they hold a 6-3 season advantage. If they win one of those games, they’ll secure the tiebreaker there as well.

That hasn’t stopped the media from hinting at what will happen this offseason.

Phillies Listed as 1 of 5 Teams to Target Juan Soto This Offseason

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is expected to test the free agent market this winter and the Phillies are one of five teams listed as a potential landing spot.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Sunday that the Phillies are expected to be one of the five teams making a push for Juan Soto in the offseason. Joining the Phillies in the rumored bidding war are the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, and Giants.

The Phillies have a strong connection to Soto through teammates Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, and their leadership duo of Dave Dombrowski and John Middleton is known for big investments.

Could Juan Soto be in a Phillies jersey next Spring? I mean, anything is possible, right?

I still have my doubts. The Phillies are already committed to $222.8 million in salary for 2025, which is the highest in all of Major League Baseball. Adding Juan Soto will be tricky given the fact that he’s expected to get offers that are north of $500 million on his next contract – which could have the Phillies losing out in a bidding war to one of the other four teams listed.

Soto, who is having a stellar season with the Yankees, holds a .985 OPS and a career-high 39 home runs. His performance has been crucial for New York, who lead the AL East. Given the Yankees’ financial muscle and Soto’s evident enjoyment of playing in New York, they seem like strong favorites to secure him.

Juan Soto in left field would be a dream come true

Juan Soto bat flip was absolutely electric 😤

(via @MLB) pic.twitter.com/WipidjTiLD

— FanDuel (@FanDuel) September 12, 2024

The Mets, while also a serious contender, might be slightly behind the Yankees in the race for Soto. Again, while John Middleton has and continues to show a willingness to spend is notable, but with their already hefty payroll commitments, it’s uncertain if they can make room for Soto without incurring substantial luxury tax penalties.

Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, is known for getting top dollar for his clients, which could lead Soto to the highest bidder. The Yankees, with their deep pockets, and the other teams mentioned seem more likely to meet Soto’s high asking price.

I will say, if the Phillies end up falling short in the postseason this year, then a shift in the foundation of this roster will be necessary after three seasons would be in the books with no World Series trophy. At that point, maybe we’ll see an aggressive pursuit of Soto this winter.

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