As you've heard, last weekend Juan Soto turned down what would have been the biggest contract in Major League Baseball history. He's obviously not bought in to the Nationals, and quite possibly not 100% in it for the money... or at least not for money that can't be renegotiated sooner than 15 years from now.
So having some fun with it... and under the assumption that Soto is in it to win it, while being fairly aware of his monetary wealth... let's look at some interesting spots that he could end up, come 2022.
First, the no-brainers:
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers haven't been quite themselves in the outfield this year. If Soto is looking to win, this is the place to be. Just like Freddie Freeman did this year... jumping into a lineup with Mookie Betts; Cody Bellinger; Trea & Justin Turner; etc, etc, etc... Adding Soto to this deadly lineup could almost ensure the Dodger 2-3 more World Series Championships over the next 5 years. Plus, anyone the Dodgers can offer will most likely be an ultimate upgrade for the Nationals, who need to start filling the void of the superstar OF who seems to want out of the Washington clubhouse.
New York Yankees
This one is a tried and true recipe for turning a great player into a legend. They have Judge; Rizzo; Stanton; Hicks; Donaldson; LeMahieu; and on and on. They're not quite the legendary pinstripes of the mid-late 90s, just yet. But they could very well be on their way. If Soto wants to win- AND make a hefty salary while doing it- the Yanks could definitely be a way to go.
New York Mets
Again, if Soto wants to win, another club that he could put over the top would be the Mets. Pete Alonso; Starling Marte; Nimmo; Lindor; J.D. Davis and one of the scariest starting pitching rotations in all of Major League Baseball. This is another team that Soto could make an instant World Series favorite, just by saying yes. Of course they could offer Washington some quality talent in return, trading Soto within the division probably isn't the most appetizing thought for a Nationals club that may want to actually compete in the NL East.
Now, let's get a little more interesting:
Toronto Blue Jays
They may not have the money, or the immediate ora of "win now" that the previous clubs present, but hear me out: Soto, Vlad, and Bichette. Along with a couple solid pitchers, the blooming of a lot of young talent and making an effort to fill in some gaps, Soto could definitely be a booster shot in the arm for Toronto. Providing some solid at-bats that they lost in Marcus Semien. This acquisition would make people start talking a lot more about the '92 & '93 World Series Champions again.
Baltimore Orioles
The biggest question here is... where would you put him? They have Mullins, Santander & Austin Hays in the OF already, but for a guy like this, Baltimore could make room. Soto could be the piece that makes an already "quite-good" Baltimore offense into a potential killer. The aforementioned names, plus Mancini, Mountcastle & others... Soto could be the piece that turns Baltimore into contenders. And heck, if the Padres can make room for Tatis by moving Macado positions, I'm sure the O's could do the same. Getting Soto in the lineup means that Baltimore could spend the next two years focusing on strengthening their starting rotation and bullpen, knowing that they have a total attack on offense.
All in all, wherever Soto lands he'll definitely make an impact- IMMEDIATELY. But for all this fun speculation, he could be completely happy in Washington and just want more money and/or a shorter -or better structured- contract. Time will tell the young 2022 Home Run Derby winner's fate. But be certain, the league will be watching!
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