It appears the race to snap up Juan Soto is really starting to heat up with the New York Yankees, and local rivals, the New York Mets, are said to be very interested in the available outfielder. The 23-year-old rejected a massive deal to stay with the Washington Nationals and is now a much sought-after talent.
The capture of such a talent would certainly lead to an impact in the NJ sports betting market; such is the quality of the player who made the All-Star team in both 2021 and 2022 and could make a real impact wherever he ends up moving to.
Many sources believe the chances of completing a deal of this magnitude might not be possible by the August 2nd trade deadline. A player of Soto’s age and ability doesn’t come around all that often, and any team that’s keen on the Dominican is going to have to go all in.
Soto turned down a 15-year deal worth $440 million and did so because the average $29.3 million a year contract is some way below what the player and his representatives believe he is worth, and they may well be right.
The Yankees’ interest might unsettle Aaron Judge, but by all accounts, he’s ready to battle Soto for playing time if such a move was to be made. A move to the Mets is helped by the fact that the team has the money to make the deal but may feel that such a deal could get in the way of bigger trade plans.
Mets pitcher Max Scherzer, who is on a $43 million a year deal, can understand Soto’s positioning in terms of his next big contract;
“You have to understand everybody’s vying interest,” Scherzer said. “The player is Juan — he wants to win first and foremost. I feel like that is his moral compass on a career decision. Take the money and throw it out the window. I try to put myself in his shoes.”
Soto isn’t a free agent until the end of the 2024 season, and as such, any move to snap up the player would be an expensive one.
Scherzer believes Soto will need to think long and hard about his short-term future but points out that the player’s age makes that a much trickier road to travel;
“The toughest thing for [Soto] is he’s getting the whole business side of this game, and he’s extremely young,”
“He’s mature beyond his years to be able to handle it. I just know it’s tougher as a player when you are doing this, going through this.”
“You get some zeroes thrown behind it, and it gets pretty crazy, but you have to have a good head on your shoulders and tune it out and just go out and play baseball.”
Apparently, the smart money on where Soto might end up could be with the San Diego Padres, who may seem an outside shot too many, are at a point where they must be serious contenders to lure Soto ahead of other more lofty teams.
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