The "Juan Soto sweepstakes" are taking over the baseball world this winter. The New York Yankees' superstar outfielder is a free agent at the ripe age of 26 while being in the prime of his career.
He's expected to see a contract worth well north of $550 million. Some projections see him earning in the $650 million range.
FanSided's Nick Villano recently projected where each of MLB's top 20 free agents would land this winter. When he got to Soto, the decision came down to two teams: the Yankees and their cross-town rivals, the New York Mets. Eventually, Villano predicted Soto to sign with the Mets over the Yankees for one big reason: money.
"$50 million. That is the price Steve Cohen is willing to pay more than any other team in the Soto Sweepstakes," Villano wrote. "The latest report states that the Mets are not letting Soto out of their sites and want to make sure it's not money that makes his decision. They will outspend literally everyone."
To put it simply, if this report about Cohen upping each offer by $50 million is accurate, then it's a done deal. Soto will go to the Mets.
But let's pump the brakes. That statement comes from a secondary source rather than from Cohen's own mouth, so it's very hard to trust the validity of such an outlandish statement.
Still, it could be true. Cohen is just so rich that he could offer Soto $50 million more than any other team. But, as the number approaches $700 million, I find it hard to imagine this idea continues.
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