It apparently is going to take more than money for any of the Juan Soto suitors to sign the superstar outfielder.
The Soto sweepstakes kicked off last week, and unsurprisingly, multiple big spenders are involved. The four-time All-Star reportedly has already met with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees, and according to multiple reports, he’s going to talk shop with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers as well.
Money obviously will do a great deal of the talking in these negotiations, but as MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand outlined in a column published Monday, Soto will be looking for more than dollar signs.
“All of Soto’s meetings have included representatives from club ownership, along with front-office executives and the team’s manager, sources said,” Feinsand wrote. “Convincing Soto that their team represents his best landing spot is about more than money; according to Sean McAdam of MassLive, Soto asked the Red Sox about the club’s commitment to winning, its ballpark and facilities, and its process of evaluating players.”
It would be borderline negligent for Soto not to ask those questions. The 26-year-old’s next contract is projected to extend over a decade, so he and his team should leave no stone unturned as they try to determine where they want to hitch their wagon for the foreseeable future.
As for when Soto could sign on the dotted line, “the feeling around the industry” is the Dominican phenom could make his decision before the Winter Meetings begin Dec. 9.
