The Dodgers’ give attention to Juan Soto is at present directed in the direction of figuring easy methods to get the slugger out throughout the the rest of the World Sequence, however as soon as the offseason begins, the membership may very well be trying so as to add Soto to its personal lineup. The New York Publish’s Jon Heyman stories that the Dodgers are considering Soto and can begin extra of a full-fledged pursuit “if he’s ” if coming to Los Angeles.
As Heyman notes, the Dodgers’ deep pockets have allowed them to at the least verify in on nearly each main free agent lately, so if something, it will be uncommon if L.A. didn’t have Soto on its offseason want listing. The Dodgers are additionally one of many few groups that may moderately meet Soto’s asking worth, which is extensively anticipated to be probably the most upfront assured cash ever given to a baseball participant. The “upfront” caveat is important since Shohei Ohtani’s $700MM deal is so closely deferred that the contract is value round $437.8MM in current worth, and Soto’s subsequent deal is anticipated to surpass the $500MM mark.
In response to RosterResource, the Dodgers have already got roughly $257.2MM dedicated to their 2025 payroll, in addition to a $253.1MM estimate on their luxurious tax quantity. The latter once more places the Dodgers over the tax threshold ($241MM) for subsequent season, and naturally including Soto for no less than a $50MM common annual worth would put the membership over the very best tax penalty tier of $301MM. Since Los Angeles has already been a tax-paying staff for the final 4 seasons, crossing the $301MM threshold would greater than double the dimensions of the staff’s tax on any overages past the $241MM mark.
In fact, the posh tax has clearly not been a serious concern for the Dodgers of their pursuit of top-tier expertise. With Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Will Smith signed by way of the remainder of the last decade and Freddie Freeman and Tyler Glasnow each signed by way of at the least 2027, the Dodgers received’t be ducking below the tax line any time quickly, and the monetary penalty is offset by the straightforward indisputable fact that the staff is a revenue-generating juggernaut.
There are many apparent explanation why Soto would have his personal curiosity in becoming a member of a perennial contender just like the Dodgers, although geography continues to be the lingering query surrounding Soto’s impending free company. Whereas Soto and Padres proprietor Peter Seidler made some headway in extension talks previous to Seidler’s passing a 12 months in the past, Heyman repeats the long-held perception that Soto would favor to play on an East Coast staff, all issues being equal. This might make the Yankees or Mets the favorites to signal him this winter, as the 2 New York groups can higher match Soto’s preferences of each location and contract.
Whereas the Yankees and Mets alone may generate a pleasant bidding conflict, Soto and agent Scott Boras will surely have a vested curiosity in maintaining different groups within the hunt, be it the Dodgers or different potential suitors just like the Giants, Blue Jays, or Nationals. If the Dodgers understand that Soto’s curiosity in coming to L.A. is pretty restricted, the staff may simply transfer onto any variety of different choices on the free agent market.
As an illustration, re-signing Teoscar Hernandez could be a lot inexpensive than signing Soto, and Hernandez is already a recognized amount in Los Angeles and a giant offensive drive in his personal proper. Heyman additionally figures the Dodgers will look so as to add one other huge pitcher to its injury-ravaged rotation, regardless that Ohtani, Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, and others are anticipated to be wholesome by Opening day.