Could the Toronto Blue Jays be a realistic suitor for impending free agent Juan Soto this off-season?
According to one of Soto’s former teammates, who chose to remain private while speaking to Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media, certainly believes as much. The anonymous veteran player said, “Look for the Blue Jays to make an astronomical offer,” Miller wrote.
The only detail revealed about this mystery player is he and Soto share the same agent, Scott Boras. But like any rumour around this time of the year, this latest one should be taken with a grain of salt.
Many throughout the industry believe the four-time All-Star could command north of $500 million in free agency this winter. But whether that’s from the 25-year-old’s current employer, the New York Yankees, or another team remains to be seen.
Toronto heavily pursued two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani last off-season before he signed a record-breaking 10-year, $700-million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a result of those efforts, some expect them to be among the potential suitors for Soto, including his unnamed friend/former teammate.
Even if the Blue Jays make a run at Soto, the odds will certainly be against them, as it’ll be extremely challenging to pry him away from the New York market, which includes the Yankees and Mets. Plus, other big-market teams like the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox will probably be in the mix for the outfielder’s services, too.
Soto enjoyed a career season in the Bronx after coming over via trade from the San Diego Padres, posting career-highs in hits (166), home runs (41), wRC+ (180) and fWAR (8.1) across 157 games during his inaugural campaign. He also drove in 109 runs, finishing one shy of matching his career-best mark set in 2019.
In the post-season thus far, the left-handed-hitting outfielder has gone 3-for-8 with a double, walk and three strikeouts with the Yankees, who’re currently tied 1-1 with the Kansas City Royals in a best-of-five ALDS ahead of Wednesday’s Game 3 at Kauffman Stadium.