The Phillies are ready to pursue Juan Soto this offseason to help fix their outfield and lineup issues

Juan Soto is set to steal the free agent spotlight this MLB offseason, with the New York Yankees and New York Mets ready to battle for the star outfielder.

Don’t count the Philadelphia Phillies out just yet.

According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are reportedly gearing up to make a move for Soto, which could make things interesting in the pursuit of one of baseball’s biggest prizes. As a big-market team willing to open the checkbook, the Phillies are expected to at least explore the possibility of signing Soto.

Phillies a potential landing spot for Juan Soto?

Potential landing spots for Juan Soto 👀

(w/ @JonHeyman) pic.twitter.com/L4KER8lksL

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) October 10, 2024

Adding to the intrigue, Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long has a close relationship with Soto, having served as the Washington Nationals’ hitting coach during Soto’s first four years in the league. This connection could play a significant role in enticing Soto to Philadelphia and really, might be the deciding factor for Kevin Long to even have a job with the Phillies next season.

The Phillies have a sense of urgency this offseason, given their older core has yet to capture a World Series title. Soto, who turns 26 later this month, would not only provide a boost in talent but also help to infuse some youth into the lineup.

Right now, Bryson Stott, who just turned 27 years old, is the youngest Phillies player in the lineup. Juan Soto is a year younger and currently leading the New York Yankees through the postseason as they punched their tickets to the ALCS last night.

Aaron Judge’s October struggles and a watchful eye on Juan Soto as the Yankees advance to the ALCS

While the Phillies have invested heavily in retaining their current roster, they’ve shown they’re not afraid to spend when it counts.

Plus, they have some serious issues in the outfield that need to be addressed with Brandon Marsh and Austin Hays proving that they are not everyday MLB players and liabilities in October.

Some of the current pieces just don’t fit anymore. Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott have shown they struggle against left-handed pitching, and in today’s game, you need guys who can hit no matter the matchup. The same can be said for Austin Hays, who can’t hit righties.

It’s time to move on from these guys. Bryson Stott should get the benefit of the doubt given his relationship with Bryce Harper and the fact that he has shown serious signs of improvement over the past three years. Brandon Marsh shouldn’t receive the same luxury, leaving a hole in left field for the Phillies in 2025.

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Soto’s impressive stats from the season—hitting .288 with 41 home runs—make him a highly sought-after player. The Yankees wrapped up their ALDS series against the Kansas City Royals last night and now await the winner of Cleveland and Detroit in the ALCS.

Juan Soto posted a .286 batting average with 4 hits, 2 RBIs and a run scored in 4 games in the 2024 ALDS.

Juan Soto gets the @Yankees on the board early! #ALDS pic.twitter.com/DA7vszbJa4

— MLB (@MLB) October 11, 2024

While the Yankees will undoubtedly make every effort to keep him, the Mets are expected to be fierce competitors as well. If the Phillies want to land Soto, they’ll need to be aggressive and strategic to make their case. It’s shaping up to be an exciting offseason in the pursuit of Juan Soto.

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