As the MLB offseason has gotten underway, no one is surprised that Juan Soto, the star outfielder, dominated all conversations. This is a free agent season whose reputation precedes it for elite batting skills and impressive plate discipline. He is undoubtedly one of the most wanted players on that list, but among teams, nobody thought would show early interest, they are making fans and analysts wildly speculate.
Soto, San Diego Padres, is on the fast rise up the baseball ranks; since making his debut in 2018 as a Washington National, he has captured the eye of the league with his ability to play both offense and defense. Cementing his status as a hallmark phenom on the diamond with Washington’s victory in the 2019 World Series, his record locked him into the baseball world.
The Padres sent him to the big league where he continued to open up his skills through sequential performances of top league rankings. He, however, still faces an uncertain future with the Padres since he is entering free agency and there is currently plenty of interest in him among various teams of the league.
Most people assumed that early suitors would come in large market teams such as the Yankees, Dodgers, or Mets. However, reports indicate that an unlikely team is already making an early move. This team, which once never seemed to be in a position to make a big splash lately, may believe that Soto is their ticket to becoming a legitimate postseason contender soon.
The early approach does more than suggest that Soto has appeal beyond his statistics. Charismatic and possessing a leader’s qualities, Soto could change the culture of a franchise. Inserting him into a lineup would likely increase ticket sales and merchandise as well as viewership and thus present economic incentives in addition to on-field ramifications. This team may come to believe that Soto fits the key to accelerating their rebuild or complementing their young, emerging talent.
It makes sense that Soto might be looking for options now with the roster decisions and concerns with payrolls that will have to be made by his Padres. In all likelihood, he would seek a long-term deal with the right team; if not with the team that gives him the assurance of their clear plan towards postseason contention, then there’s nothing stopping them from splurging on more pieces to put around him in order to win.
No formal offers have been announced, but the early chatter suggests it could be a very intense free agency, with teams willing to get creative to get the marquee outfielder. One of the most surprising moves from under-the-radar teams sets the tone for a pretty dynamic offseason where established superstars like Soto find themselves in unexpected destinations.
Whether or not the team can pull in Soto remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure: The early play is showing them to be deadly serious. Franchise fans are no doubt watching closely as rumors continue to swirl, hoping that this unexpected bid might just bring Juan Soto to their roster for the next season. This team, with Soto at the helm, could soon enough become the great outsider and compete with the best in the MLB scene.
