Thoughts on Soto Meetings & Offers
New York Mets – With talks of offers being extended to Juan Soto this week – I’ll come right out and say it [with my obvious bias], I’m really not too worried about the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Yankees, or Dodgers.
Sure, the Dodgers are trying to build a super team of the most elite players in the league; but what’s palpable among baseball fans is this feeling that would plague the sport for the next 10 years.
It’s hard to imagine the fans of every other team would continue to watch if the World Series went to LA year after year… after year. A script that has already been written for the next decade is not very exciting.
When it comes to the Dodgers and their affordability for said super team, there is an idea of a comparable structure to Shohei Ohtani’s record MLB contract; $700 million for 10 years, taking a yearly salary of $2 million until 2034; with a deferred $680 million over the following 10 years. The flexibility in payroll the deferment has created for the Dodgers, plus an additional [approximate] $90 million coming off the books for 2025, sure seems like playing with box-office guys Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, and others could be enticing enough for Juan Soto.
However, it’s hard to imagine he’d be willing to [also] take deferred money with all the reports of him planning to sign with the highest bidder – Especially not when Mets owner Steve Cohen is expected to do “all things necessary” to sign him.
Anchors – David Stearns Master Class
In the last two weeks especially, there is lots of talk on the internet of the Mets having “missed out on Yamamoto,” too. And sure – What a talent that guy is. But you’ve got to consider the projected timeline a pitcher has at this level at that caliber. Yes, there are one-offs and enigma-type players that you’d place in that “generational-talent” box – They’d be the ones you’d consider spending on. But a long-term/high-value deal on a pitcher older than 25 is far too dicey, especially when it comes to signing a highly sought-after (and healthy) free agent; and whether that expenditure could impact the financial ability to go out and get guys that “overproduce” in the lineup. If we’re talking free agents, consider the prospective pitching class; multiple 30-year-old pitchers seeking long-term deals. How much gas is left in the tank? You’ve gotta believe in the David Stearns Master Class – Prioritizing short-term deals as a “try out” at an inflated price to allow for the acquisition of big-name anchors in the field and lineup- “Franchise Grabs.”
Financials
Let’s not forget the story of Steve Cohen buying a house for $14 million in cash because “he has the money” – Or the other story of him buying $144 million in art (Something that literally hangs on the wall). Missing out on Soto because of “money,” is just not in the cards.
— Gab (@gabrauc) November 15, 2024
Even more so, Soto doesn’t strike me as a “ring chaser” – considering he already has one – So if it’s truly about money, you can’t really expect to accept deferred money when Cohen is expecting to outbid by $50 million more than the highest offer.
What I think will be the most enticing for Soto to come to the Mets is knowing he won’t be their be-all-end-all. The Mets want Soto enough to shell out the highest offer for him – AND they could still go out and get the other needed guys – Including the high-price-tag ones to address other needs. Especially with the Yankees in the mix, you certainly can’t expect him to re-sign with them considering it’d be almost the exact same team as last season – One that ended in a laughable World Series loss.
Ya Gotta Believe in David Stearns.
