Inside source names team that could make Juan Soto 'astronomical offer' in free agency

MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in September that the Toronto Blue Jays would "at least make an attempt" to sign All-Star New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto in free agency. 

For a piece published Wednesday, Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com shared that "one of Soto's friends" who is a former teammate and who, like Soto, is represented by well-known agent Scott Boras believes the Blue Jays will do more than just reach out to the 25-year-old's camp once he hits the open market following the World Series. 

"Look for the Blue Jays to make an astronomical offer," that friend said about Soto's pending free agency journey. "I heard it with my own ears." 

Soto joined the Yankees from the San Diego Padres via a December 2023 trade and, by all accounts, has loved featuring for the Bronx Bombers and playing home games in the country's largest sports market. Nightengale directly said over a month ago that Soto will eventually pen to paper on a deal with either the Yankees or the New York Mets, and big-spending Mets owner Steve Cohen reportedly could offer the slugger a deal worth up to $600M next month. 

"The number has to start with a six," the friend said about the value of Soto’s next contract. "Soto’s still 25 years old. I also can tell you that I doubt he takes any deferred money." 

That friend also "doesn’t know if Soto would leave money on the table to return to the Yankees." Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner worried fans regarding Soto's future this past spring when Steinbrenner said the club's payroll is "not sustainable" long-term due to luxury-tax penalties, but it's unclear if the Blue Jays would be willing to outbid both Steinbrenner and Cohen for any one player. 

"The Blue Jays think Soto would be perfect for their lineup and team," the friend told Miller. "I know their management thinks Soto and [infielder Vladimir Guerrero Jr.] for them would be what Soto and [to-be two-time American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge] were like this year for the Yankees." 

The friend acknowledged that nobody knows what Soto will decide once he's permitted to speak with teams other than the Yankees. For now, he and his current teammates will do all they can to focus on getting past the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series that's tied at 1-1 and that resumes at Kansas City's Kauffman Stadium on Wednesday evening.