Juan Soto Sweepstakes: Are the Phillies Really Out of the Race?

Another week, another twist in the Juan Soto sweepstakes, and it’s starting to feel like the Phillies are on the outside looking in. Just a couple of weeks ago, there was a glimmer of hope that Philadelphia might swoop in and make a play for Soto, but now? It seems like they might not even be in the room.

The Latest from Juan Soto’s Agent, Scott Boras

Scott Boras, Soto’s super-agent, gave a vague update on Tuesday, saying Soto has “begun the process of eliminating teams” and that the slugger is “methodical” in his approach.

Translation: teams are being crossed off the list, and the Phillies might be one of them because, well, they haven’t even talked to him.

Meanwhile, reports from The Athletic indicate that the bidding for Juan Soto has already surpassed a jaw-dropping $600 million. That’s an astronomical number, and while the Phillies have the financial muscle to compete, they’ve been conspicuously absent from the mix of teams believed to be in serious contention.

The Teams in Play

The Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Mets, and Blue Jays are the five teams rumored to be the most involved.

The Phillies? Nowhere to be found.

While MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki hinted last week that the Phillies still intended to meet with Soto and Boras, there’s no evidence that a meeting ever took place.

Add to that Matt Gelb’s reporting from The Athletic, which suggested a sense of finality to the Phillies’ absence from the process.

Could they storm in at the last minute with a blockbuster offer? Sure. But if Juan Soto’s camp hasn’t even heard from Philadelphia, why would he seriously consider signing there?

Report: Phillies are NOT listed as one of the five teams to make Juan Soto an offer

Did Middleton Tip His Hand?

“I’m afraid Juan Soto wants to be in New York, and I don’t mind being a stalking horse,” Middleton told The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Conor Smith.

“At some point, if Dave and I get that feeling, we’ll probably say ‘You know what, we’re not going to win this’ because we’ve both been the stalking horse before. And if I were an agent, I would do it too. It’s perfectly good strategy. I mean, it’s smart. But at the end of the day, I just think he likes New York.” 

It’s a practical stance, but it also raises eyebrows. If Middleton and Dombrowski suspected Soto was set on New York, why not at least throw your hat in the ring?

Even a “stalking horse” offer would signal that the Phillies are still players on the biggest stage. For a team that just extended Bryce Harper and Trea Turner to massive deals, not even showing up to the Soto table feels… off.

Maybe that’s the point. Middleton and Dombo are hanging in the shadows awaiting their chance to come in and get something done or at the VERY least, make an offer to Soto once other teams finally show their cards.

I like that thought, but I’m not sure even that is the case.

What’s the Strategy Here?

It’s hard to see the Phillies’ play here, assuming they’ve really bowed out. Juan Soto is a generational talent, and pairing him with Harper, Turner, and Schwarber would create one of the most fearsome lineups in baseball.

Even if Juan Soto truly wants New York, meeting with him would allow the Phillies to gauge his interest and perhaps sway his thinking.

Instead, it feels like the Phillies have decided to sit this one out. Whether it’s a financial decision, a calculated move to avoid being used as leverage, or a genuine belief that Soto is destined for the Big Apple, it’s hard not to see this as a missed opportunity.

What Happens Next?

The Phillies could still surprise everyone by swooping in late with a monster offer, but that seems unlikely. More realistically, Soto ends up with one of the usual suspects—the Yankees, Mets, or Dodgers—and the Phillies are left wondering if they should have done more to land the 25-year-old superstar.

For now, Phillies fans will have to focus on the current roster and hope that Middleton and Dombrowski have a long-term plan that doesn’t include Soto. But missing out on one of the best young players in baseball, especially when the team seemed poised to make a run, is a tough pill to swallow.

The Phillies weren’t dead in the water two weeks ago, but after this week’s developments, it sure feels like they’ve chosen to stay on the shore.

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