Juan Soto anticipated to receive numerous rounds of free-agent bids

According to a league source, Major League Baseball teams are currently in the process of submitting preliminary contract offers to star free agent outfielder Juan Soto. The offers will help differentiate serious contenders from hopefuls, with potential second rounds of offers to come. Soto, who has met with several teams including the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Dodgers, is considered the best player on the market and is expected to command a record-breaking contract. Last season, he had a salary-arbitration record of $31 million with the Yankees. At only 26 years old, Soto is praised for his hitting prowess and youth, making him a highly sought-after player in free agency. It is uncertain if Soto will have additional in-person meetings with teams before making a decision. In 2022, Soto turned down a $440 million contract extension from the Nationals before being traded to the Padres and then to the Yankees. Soto’s performance in the 2022 season earned him a third-place finish in the AL MVP race and impressive stats in the postseason, helping the Yankees reach the World Series. Soto has expressed openness to hearing offers from all 30 MLB teams, emphasizing that no doors are closed. The process of Soto’s free agency is expected to continue through the Winter Meetings in December.

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