Juan Soto free company: Rating prime 10 groups by greatest match for famous person slugger

The most important and greatest free agent this offseason is Juan Soto, however all of us already knew that, proper? He is a generational expertise on a Corridor of Fame observe and he is solely 26 years previous. He is already performed on three completely different groups which have made it to the LCS spherical, profitable a hoop with the Nationals in 2019 and an AL pennant with the Yankees this previous season. The wildest information of all is that by a number of measures, he is coming off the perfect yr of his profession, thus far. 

There is not actually a lot to not love. 

Understanding that, each single group in Main League Baseball would have room for Soto. After all, not all can afford him — whether or not they can truly afford him or possession will not enable it, it is all the identical for our functions. For instance, the Cubs completely may afford Soto and may wish to add an precise star to their position-player pool, however as a substitute they appear content material to maintain going for a roster with a bunch of common or fairly good gamers. So whereas they need to make the record and would rank fairly excessive, the entrance workplace has proven is has little interest in doing such issues and they’re fired from the record. This is not the identical as our touchdown spots rankings, which had been about who has the perfect probability of incomes the pleasure of using Soto. That is about the place he matches greatest.

10. Seattle Mariners

The Mariners have solely been to the playoffs one time since 2001, which occurs to be the final time they received the AL West. They’ve additionally been a contender in every of the final 4 seasons, so Soto might be considered as a transfer that helps put them excessive and that may be engaging to gamers. The Mariners have deep pockets and we have seen them present as a lot earlier than, resembling with the Robinson Cano signing. The lineup is tough and will use one other left-handed hitter, too, making Soto an ideal match. 

After all, we have needed to demote them a couple of spots as a result of consideration from Soto’s standpoint. The Mariners play in an excessive pitcher’s park. That is by no means an excellent match for his sort of profile.

9. San Francisco Giants

Much like Seattle, the Giants play in a pitcher-friendly yard and although it is not as excessive, it is a lot more durable on lefties than righties. Meaning the Giants are already beginning a bit behind right here. It’s a high-profile group with loads of success within the latest previous and that’s probably a plus. 

As for the match, the Giants want to contend and will positive use some further thunder in the midst of the lineup. There is a match both in proper or left subject, relying on how they needed to fit Soto with Mike Yastrzemski. 

The Giants reportedly do not have a ton of additional payroll room this offseason, however they might make Soto match financially. 

8. Boston Pink Sox

The Pink Sox had been 81-81 final season. Maybe it is time to cease appearing like a middle-market group and begin getting again to being the Pink Sox from the 2000s and 2010s. They’ve two stars atop the lineup in Jarren Duran and Rafael Devers, however there is not any manner that ought to ever stop a group from making an attempt to seize a Soto-type expertise. 

Soto’s slot in Fenway Park is gorgeous: Down the right-field line is a pleasant goal and he’d get a bunch of Inexperienced Monster doubles along with opposite-field dwelling runs. 

Signing Soto would even be a bonus in that it takes him away from the Yankees. 

I do surprise concerning the allocation of sources, after all. They’re so left-handed within the lineup with Duran and Devers and Triston Casas and Masataka Yoshida and Wilyer Abreu. Additionally, their wants lie elsewhere than outfield. 

Nonetheless, it is Juan Freaking Soto. 

7. Los Angeles Dodgers

Exterior of Dodgers followers, this may not be effectively obtained in any respect, however the World Collection champions completely are a match for Soto. They’ve already said that Mookie Betts is shifting again to the infield, which leaves a gap in proper subject. Simply think about a lineup that includes Shohei Ohtani, Soto, Betts and Freddie Freeman.

We all know the Dodgers have the monetary may to tug off such a transfer. 

I am additionally not placing them increased as a result of I imagine their sources could be higher served to seize pitching, a shortstop — an precise shortstop, not shifting a proper fielder there — after which simply bringing again Teoscar Hernández with what’s left of their coffers. 

It is also potential I’ve them too low. 

6. Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays had sufficient cash put aside that they had been reasonable suitors for Shohei Ohtani. Toronto is within the third-biggest metro space in baseball after New York and Los Angeles. They’d need to shuffle the outfield a bit to suit Soto, however that is what you do for a participant of his caliber. And he would not be getting into a completely hopeless scenario. Positive, the Blue Jays solely received 74 video games final yr, however a lot went mistaken and there are causes to imagine they’re going to be higher subsequent time round even with out Soto. 

For extra, I’ve already laid out the Blue Jays’ case. 

5. Washington Nationals

The Nats shipped Soto away as they had been embarking on a rebuild, so what higher strategy to signify it is time to contend once more than to carry him again? They’ve some thrilling younger gamers like James Wooden, Dylan Crews, CJ Abrams and Luis García Jr. that may assist kind the inspiration of the following Nationals contender, however throwing Soto in the midst of that group would give them a top-shelf, veteran famous person who has been by the playoff battles. 

If there’s any pause right here, it is that the Nats turning the nook shortly subsequent season just isn’t a positive factor and Soto’s suitor record is full of groups which are positive issues.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

It would seem to be the Phillies have too many high-priced stars and/or energy hitters, however you actually can by no means have an excessive amount of of that. There’s truly a straightforward match right here, too. The Phillies’ outfield proper now has Nick Castellanos in proper and three gamers (Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Austin Hays) for middle and left. Signing Soto to play proper subject and shifting Castellanos to left would work.

It is not just like the Phillies are determined to fill their rotation or have a evident positional weak point outdoors of outfield, both. Plus, they’re already set as much as win now and that is one thing that ought to give them a leg up within the hunt on the Nationals and Blue Jays, for instance. 

Soto completely matches right here. 

If there’s any pause, it will be that the Phillies have already spent a lot cash and it is totally potential they view him a lot much less as a necessity and extra as a luxurious. Their leftover payroll could also be higher spent on middle subject, a No. 5 starter and bullpen wants as a substitute of bringing in one other famous person. 

3. Baltimore Orioles

You wish to ship a sign to the fan base that you’re uninterested in shedding playoff video games and are not going to function like a small-market membership with a monster farm system? Go signal Juan Soto. 

The Orioles’ greatest energy hitter final season was Anthony Santander, a proper fielder who’s now a free agent. That creates a pure opening. It is true that the Orioles are fairly left-handed with the likes of Gunnar Henderson, Colton Cowser, Cedric Mullins, Jackson Holliday and Heston Kjerstad, to not point out change hitter Adley Rutschman.

After all, that left-field wall is fairly far again and Camden Yards is fitted to left-handed hitters. May as effectively simply load up on them, contemplating nearly all of pitchers are righties anyway. 

The Orioles do not have a lot payroll dedicated to future years, so including Soto should not be an issue for the brand new possession group that is able to spend some cash. 

Now, it must be famous that the Orioles want pitching greater than place gamers, however Soto nonetheless matches as a result of he is solely 26 and a longtime famous person. Plus, they might commerce from their stockpile of position-playing prospects for pitching after signing Soto. 

It is actually an incredible match if Mike Elias and crew can thread that needle. 

2. New York Mets

The Mets simply made it to the NLCS and appear primed for an prolonged run of success now based mostly on their farm system, a entrance workplace run by a succesful president in David Stearns and an proprietor who may outpay just about anybody. That is a great begin. 

On the identical time, the beginning outfielders proper now are Brandon Nimmo, Starling Marte and Tyrone Taylor. Taylor is not an on a regular basis participant, nor ought to Marte be at this level in his profession. On prime of that, who is aware of what’s going to occur with Pete Alonso in free company. 

That is to say that not solely is there a gap for an on a regular basis proper fielder, however the Mets may really want to switch some middle-order manufacturing if Alonso walks. Even when he would not, the duo is not redundant to the roster and signing each would simply make them that rather more highly effective. 

Additionally, the previous phrase “strike whereas the iron is sizzling” applies right here. The Mets simply made an unlikely run to the NLCS and want to capitalize on it and announce their presence as a significant participant to the remainder of baseball. 

Going out and grabbing the perfect free agent who is a wonderful roster match strains up fairly completely. 

However is there somebody in the way in which? 

1. New York Yankees

There’s one thing to be mentioned for continuity. Soto simply skilled a season with the Yankees earlier than hitting free company and had, as I famous above, the perfect yr of his profession. Aaron Decide wants to maneuver again to a nook outfield spot — probably with Jasson Domínguez getting an opportunity in middle — however Alex Verdugo is heading out in free company. Decide and Soto taking part in the corners is what the Yankees want. 

The Yankees had a really top-heavy lineup final season with Decide and Soto doing a lot of the heavy lifting, however it was sufficient to win the American League East, put up the perfect file within the AL and get to the World Collection. It labored effectively. The Yankees can ill-afford to see the way it works out with out Soto. He was even nice in early April after which within the playoffs when Decide was struggling. 

The ballpark is a superb match, too, with that brief right-field porch, even when Soto is not a pull-heavy hitter nor reliant on the house ballpark (he truly hit barely higher on the highway final yr).

I completely love the concept of Soto signing with the Orioles, however each New York groups provide glorious matches to their roster and are possible ready to make higher monetary affords to Soto. 

The highway runs by New York.