New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto will deal with his contract situation in the offseason, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
"We will see," Soto said when asked about the New York Mets potentially offering him a contract. "In the offseason we will figure it out. I'll let [agent Scott Boras] do his thing. We're going to see."
The 25-year-old is set to enter free agency at the end of the 2024 season, with Heyman suggesting on Tuesday that the Mets could be the "biggest outside threat" to lure Soto away from the Yankees.
After the Yankees acquired Soto in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres during the 2023 offseason, the three-time All-Star has been dominant throughout his first season in the Bronx.
In 77 games prior to Tuesday night's action, Soto hit .305 with 18 home runs and 56 RBIs. He's recorded an impressive .994 OPS and racked up 12 doubles, while his .433 on-base percentage represents the highest mark in the majors (via MLB.com).
B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoffJuan Soto said SEE YA ✌️<br><br>(via <a href="">@MLB</a>) <a href="">
Given his age and his production, he's expected to receive a hefty contract in free agency. Brittany Ghiroli of The Athletic reported in April that Soto and Boras are "after records," with conversations regarding his next deal starting at $500 million.
This may price him out of the Yankees' plans, as general manager Brian Cashman told reporters on Feb. 15 that "I don't see too many things stopping him from reaching free agency."
Although Cashman could still hand him a long-term deal in free agency, he'll have lots of competition.
ESPN's Kiley McDaniel polled 28 "MLB executives, agents and insiders" on June 11 to discuss Soto's future. In addition to the Mets, the Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays were all mentioned as possible destinations.
With Soto planning to focus on his free agency in the offseason, he'll continue to help the Yankees as they look to maintain their 2.5-game lead in the AL East.
