Bob Nightengale yet again lists the Phillies as the team to watch in the Juan Soto Free Agency Sweepstakes

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported Monday that the Phillies are expected to make a strong push for Juan Soto in free agency this winter. The idea of Soto joining forces with Bryce Harper in red pinstripes has already set Philly fans’ imaginations on fire. But is it realistic?

Nightengale’s report mentioned Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, revealing that Soto nearly reached a long-term deal with the Padres last winter before the unexpected passing of owner Peter Seidler halted talks.

In the same article, the Phillies were listed among several suitors for Juan Soto, along with the Yankees, Mets, Blue Jays, and Giants.

Phillies expected to be in strong pursuit of Juan Soto during free agency

The #Phillies are expected to “strongly pursue” Juan Soto in free-agency this winter, per @BNightengale pic.twitter.com/9w9Ldcx1Ot

— MLB Deadline News (@MLBDeadlineNews) October 28, 2024

Adding Juan Soto to a lineup that already includes Bryce Harper would be the stuff of dreams, but let’s not overlook Boras’s playbook here. It’s classic Boras to get as many teams in the mix as possible, creating bidding wars and driving up the price.

Ken Rosenthal believes that Juan Soto will go to the highest bidder in free agency >>

Mentioning the Phillies in clear-cut terms not only fuels fan excitement but also nudges Phillies owner John Middleton, who’s surely still smarting from the team’s NLDS loss to the Mets.

Soto is a generational talent, and his free-agent contract could easily surpass $600 million. The Phillies would be doing themselves a disservice not to at least kick the tires. But right now, it feels like they’re more of a dark horse compared to the Yankees and Mets, who seem to be leading the charge.

The Yankees are the likeliest landing spot for Soto. He’s fit in seamlessly with the team since being traded, even hitting the home run that sent them to their first World Series since 2009.

Hal Steinbrenner may not be his father, but the Yankees still had the second-highest payroll in baseball last season at $309.4 million. The only team that spent more would be the New York Mets, at $317.8 million.

If Soto ends up in New York, Phillies fans should hope he sticks with the Yankees rather than crossing town to the Mets, where Steve Cohen’s spending spree could make him an NL East nightmare.

Cohen has made it clear that he’ll spend whatever it takes, and adding Soto would only strengthen the Mets’ case for a long-term reign in the division.

Could the Phillies pull off a surprise and land Soto? Sure, anything’s possible in free agency. But unlike previous pursuits of big names like Harper, Manny Machado, and Trea Turner—where the Phillies were clear frontrunners—the Soto sweepstakes feel like a tougher battle.

Ultimately, the Phillies have the resources and a win-now mindset, but they’re likely a step behind the New York teams. It’s always fun to dream, but for now, Soto in Philly feels like more of a long shot than a sure thing.

Breaking down the Phillies’ free agents and arbitration-eligible players this offseason >>

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