WHO IS GONNA GET JUAN?
Any day now - the Juan Soto Sweepstakes will end.
As of Dec. 5, oddsmakers had the Yankees and Mets in a dead heat:
"Betting odds show that the Yankees and Mets are co-favorites to land Soto (-120 each) ahead of the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays."
WHAT'S YOUR CALL?
I say that for once, in a very hotly contested scrum for talent, the Mets don't come up as a runner-up, but instead come out with the prize, Mr. Juan Soto.
ReplyDeleteMy "educated guess"... have no frigging idea. Don't even think Soto and Boras know at this point
ReplyDeleteIf I had to guess...
Yanks
Once again, I am in the minority here, but I hope he signs with the Yankees. The amount we are going to have to overpay is ridiculous. The contract will be an albatross over our heads for the next 15 years.
ReplyDeleteWhy do we have to severely overpay anyone to come to us. If you don't want to be here don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way to a new team.
My additional guess at this point that recent Mets budget signings looks like they are planning for some high dollar additions
ReplyDeleteI’ve been against committing the dollars and years that have been bandied about in one player in a sport where even having the best hitter in the league guarantees nothing (see: Trout, Mike). That said, I feel like Cohen is going to do whatever it takes to get him, and unlike in years past, I absolutely trust Stearns and the FO team he’s assembled to evaluate talent and to be on the cutting edge of player development to fill out a strong roster season to season. And a lineup that starts with Lindor, Soto, Vientos would be as strong as any in the game. At least for as long as they’re all healthy. And if we’re assuming 15 years, during which Soto would undoubtedly become a FT DH within 6/7 years, let’s not forget that Moises Alou hit .347 for us in his age 41 season. Sure, he couldn’t stay on the field and had to retire, but he also had to play the field. So, not impossible that we get something close to Steve’s money’s worth for a significant chunk of that commitment.
ReplyDeleteWe are always talking about building a sustainable championship contender. One aspect of that type of team besides a strong pipeline of young talent is a couple of stars at the top that will consistently perform at an Elite MLB level. Lindor and Soto would give us that. The current roster does not have anyone else in that category (sorry Pete). That makes me believe that Cohen/Stearns will do everything they can to make it happen. It is still on Soto to choose leaving an American League pennant winner to join a National League challenger. I don't know if he will do that.
ReplyDeleteI say Boston. Very good young prospects and team + hitter’s park to rack up numbers + big market on the east coast without the 20 daily beat reporters = less stress.
ReplyDelete
DeleteSasaki to the Mets and next year with Soto’s money they get both Tucker and Guerrero… how you like them Big Apple Mets?
I will be elated if they sign him. Hope will be that two or more future Hall of Famers are locked in for many years and wear the Mets hat into the Hall. That said, I think the Red Sox are the best fit for him and the Yankees will fall all over themselves to get him. I like the money spent across a number of players who play for love of team and baseball. So, I will hope Steve makes whoever else pays him pay a crippling amount and then lets Stearns spend the money on more LOTG guys who play with heart like last year's team.
ReplyDeleteSome big stars might increase season attendance by 25,000. Soto could increase Mets attendance by 500,000. That defrays a lot of the cost. Let's say the net revenue increase was $50 million. Factor that in and Juan looks cheap.
ReplyDeleteGus, you mention Boston's rising prospects. That is why I was so tough on Gilbert's severe, likely avoidable, injury (and possibly Jett in that category, too). If those 2 had 300-400 more minors at bats in 2024, they might have been 1) ready and 2) cheap. The Mets' prospects seem to be a bunch of question marks, in terms of: will those 2 and Sproat be more than average major leaguers any time soon? Soto is considering that, too.
ReplyDelete