MLB insider reveals true intentions of Dodgers' meeting with Juan Soto

Due to their deep pockets and winning pedigree, the Los Angeles Dodgers had once been considered one of the favorites to land the top available free agent in Juan Soto this offseason.

It was, therefore, hardly newsworthy that the Dodgers reportedly met with Soto last week. However, MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported Monday that only four teams are "seriously in play" for Soto – and the Dodgers aren't one of them.

Nightengale predicts one of the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays or Boston Red Sox will win the Soto sweepstakes, leaving many scratching their heads as to why the Dodgers wanted to meet with the 26-year-old outfielder in the first place.

On one hand, the Dodgers could just be doing their due diligence meeting with Soto. Plus, even if they aren't necessarily serious about signing him, the meeting itself could still benefit Soto (and his agent, Scott Boras) by helping to drive up his asking price.

But what if the meeting was never even about Soto at all? Nightengale pointed out another plausible reason the Dodgers may have met with him: to put some pressure on free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández to re-sign with them.

Dodgers' meeting with Juan Soto puts pressure on Teoscar Hernández to re-sign in Los Angeles

Hernández had a stellar 2024 campaign with the Dodgers, smacking a career-high 33 home runs and adding 99 RBI. He officially became a free agent when he declined the $21.05 million qualifying offer extended to him by Los Angeles last week. He could feasibly still return to the Dodgers, who would have a vacancy in left field, and it seems clear that they want him to.

It appears to be a mutual admiration society between Hernández and the Dodgers, with the 32-year-old saying earlier this month that his hopes to return are "really high." He likely rejected the qualifying offer because he knows he can – and will – get more on the open market.

Hernández put pressure on the Dodgers when he rejected their qualifying offer; now, they are simply returning that pressure by meeting with another high-profile, slugging outfielder. Your move, Teo.

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