Who cares about fit, you go after Juan Soto
He's a once in a generation type of hitter
There are Dodgers fans who don’t want Juan Soto. Not only that, there are lots of Dodgers fans who don’t want Juan Soto.
………. what?
Whether it be on Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, or Youtube — a lot of Dodgers fans don’t want Juan Soto. Seriously. Go search his name there and you’ll see Dodgers fans complaining about him. Or, to make your life easier, go to my Twitter and read the replies to any tweet of mine where I mention him.
Yeah, I’m having a really hard time trying to understand this.
People have their reasons. I’ve seen them all. They don’t want to pay him a lot of money. To that I say…. it’s not your money! Who cares how much he costs?
There are a number of fans who believe he is a cancer in the clubhouse. I don’t know where these rumors have come from, but there are no reputable pieces of info out there that suggest he’s a bad teammate.
Ohhhh following the Yankees’ World Series loss he said he’s open to talking with every team? So what? If I was a free agent for the first time on the verge of making a lot of money, I would ALSO like to speak with every team I can. Because he didn’t say he wants to be a Yankee next year that makes him a cancer?
Many Dodgers fans think he would ruin the clubhouse. Guys wouldn’t get along! It would hurt the team! Keep him as far away from the locker room as possible! Give me a break.
Juan Soto isn’t just any free agent. We’ve literally never seen a player of this talent enter free agency at this age. This isn’t some All-Star you’re signing at the age of 30 who will probably suck five years from now. This is a player who is only 26 years old and is on track towards becoming one of the greatest players this game has ever seen.
You’re the Dodgers. You 100 percent make a push to sign him.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Dodgers won’t “chase” after Soto.
Ohtani's presence at designated hitter would leave them with limited options should Soto's defensive range force a move -- but would gladly consider him in the unlikely event his market softens.
That makes sense. The Yankees, Mets and potentially other teams are going to be in an all-out bidding war for Soto. Personally, I don’t think he’s worth $700 million. I also don’t think he’s worth $600 million. I think the Dodgers understand this. Do other teams? We’ll have to wait and see.
We’ve seen all these numbers thrown out there, but we don’t truly know how much teams would be willing to offer for Soto. I’m sure the Dodgers have a number in mind. They probably have a number they’re willing to get to. If Soto’s other offers are around that ballpark, maybe they strike.
That’s fine by me, but the Dodgers should still be at least a little aggressive when it comes to Soto. Like I mentioned earlier, players like this don’t come around too often. Since debuting in 2018, Soto has been one of the best players in all of baseball.
He’s a four-time All-Star and a five-time Silver Slugger. He’s won a World Series, lost a World Series and made it to the NLCS. He hits for power, hits for average and gets on base.
His career OPS+ is 160. For reference, Shohei Ohtani’s career OPS+ is 157.
Oh, and did I mention Soto is only 26 years old? You’re getting him right in the heart of his prime. Again, this doesn’t come around too often. Think of all the great hitters from baseball over the last few decades. Imagine having them in their age 26-34 seasons. You do whatever you can to make it happen.
The biggest concern with signing Soto for a lengthy contract would be his defense. That’s a valid concern. Ideally you’d like to have a DH spot available for him a few years down the line. Well, with Ohtani in your lineup for the next nine years, there won’t really be any room.
That’s fine by me. With his bat, and how great of a team the Dodgers will have, I’d live with his defense. It wouldn’t be the end of the world.
Who knows, maybe when Freddie Freeman’s contract is up in three years, Soto could learn how to play first base. I’m not sure if that’s something that would ever be considered, but it’s a thought.
You’re getting a generational hitter. Who cares about their defense. Figure that out down the road.
Back to the thing I said earlier about Soto’s presence in the clubhouse. I don’t know where this came from, but half of Dodgers fans are under the assumption that Soto is some cancer in the clubhouse and he would be a terrible fit with the players. Again, I don’t know where this came from but you’d be surprised as to how many fans genuinely believe this.
Soto would not be a cancer in the clubhouse. He’d get along great with his teammates. He’d be just fine. If that is the reason you don’t want him, there’s nothing I can do to help you.
Soto is meeting with teams in Southern California this week. I haven’t seen a report saying the Dodgers plan to meet with him yet. Considering he’s going to be local, it wouldn’t make sense not to set up some sort of meeting with him.
If I were the Dodgers, here’s what my pitch to Soto would be. I would offer him a four-year contract for $250 million. He’d be shattering the AAV record at $62.5M per season, which we all know Scott Boras would love.
Assuming Soto continues on this path he’s on, he’d re-enter free agency at 30. That is the age majority of these superstars enter free agency at anyways. At that point, he would likely get his $700+ million contract, maybe even more.
So he’d get $250M now and then $700M+ four years from now. We’re talking about nearly a billion dollars here.
The Dodgers wouldn’t be committed to a 12+ year contract and he would be off the books in four years. If they want to re-sign him, sure they can do that. But they’d be adding Soto to this core of Ohtani, Betts and Freeman for at least the next few years.
Now, I give that a 0.23% chance of happening. Knowing Boras, he’s going to laugh at that offer, even though it would be record breaking and would actually really benefit his client. He’ll want his client to get as much money now as possible, which I understand. But going the Dodgers route offers Soto the chance to make potentially $300+ million more over the course of his career. Risky, but barring an injury, Soto is going to be worth that four years from now. He might even be worth $800 million in 2029.
Again, that’s what I would do if I’m the Dodgers. Or, you just offer him a 14-year contract for $600 million ($42.8 AAV) and see if that’s enough. Maybe it is.
This is a once in a generation type of hitter. They’d be stupid to not make a legitimate offer for him. You worry about his defense and where he fits in down the road after you’ve won another World Series or two.
Hi Blake I’m one of those fans who don’t trust Soto’s personality. I’ve watched him for several seasons and his theatrical machinations. Anywhere there is a camera there he is. I.E, the home run hitting contests. I guess I feel he thinks there is really only one in team. There was a time when really I wanted him. That’s when he went from the Nationals to the Padres. Since then I’ve changed my mind. I’ve had lots of arguments with my husband who agrees with you. It’s just a gut feeling I have. I just think he is a wrong fit, kind’ve like Machado was when he was with the Dodgers that one year.
I respectfully disagree. His defense is horrendous. We saw it first hand quite a few times when he played for SD. Look at the 5th inning of game 5 with the Yankees……defense matters. People complained about Pages & Outman in the OF because they weren’t Bellinger out there, now imagine having Soto out there……he’s worse defensively than any OF the Dodgers already have. I’d rather they secure Teo and pitching. Plus, I think he’s out for more money than he’s worth in my opinion.