Predicting the Dodgers' reported contract offer to Juan Soto after latest update

Barely 24 hours after MLB insider Bob Nightengale of USA Today had reported that only four teams were "seriously in play" for coveted free agent slugger Juan Soto, it appears that a fifth team has entered the chat: the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Initially, the general consensus seemed to be that the Dodgers had only met with Soto as a negotiating tactic to drive his price up and put some pressure on his fellow free agent outfielder, Teoscar Hernández, to re-sign in Los Angeles. But as of Tuesday morning, the Dodgers are reportedly one of five teams that have already submitted offers to Soto, joining the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

We don't know the terms of any of the offers that have been made to the superstar outfielder, but we do know that he is reportedly seeking a 15-year deal worth more than $700 million. Such a contract could potentially set an MLB record in terms of both years and dollar value.

Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers in Dec. 2023, but the deferred money in the deal brought its present-day value down considerably. Still, the Dodgers are reminding everyone just how deep their pockets are by joining in on the Soto sweepstakes.

Predicting the Dodgers' reported contract offer to Juan Soto after latest update

Wait... so, are the Dodgers really serious about signing Soto?

Maybe, but it still feels unlikely. Remember, we don't know the terms of the offers that were presented to the 26-year-old by any of the teams involved. In the event that none of them come close to the 15-year, $700 million deal he is reportedly seeking, the Dodgers still have room to make a strategic play.

It's entirely possible that Los Angeles submitted an offer to Soto in the neighborhood of two to three years at a value around $225 million, which could accomplish two things. It would shore up the Dodgers' outfield situation in the near future, with Mookie Betts moving back to the infield and Hernández's status for next season still unknown, and it could help drive Soto's price up even further when he hits free agency again in 2027 or 2028. After all, he's only 26 years old!

Regardless, the fact that there are offers on the table means a decision could be coming soon for Soto – and, possibly, for the Dodgers.

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