The Juan Soto sweepstakes are officially heating up. Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, have already met with several teams, sitting down with the Los Angeles Dodgers this Tuesday. Several clubs are eager to add Soto’s elite bat to their lineup, and the competition is fierce. Early in the process, MLB insider Jon Heyman has weighed in with some intriguing insights, suggesting that two teams are currently in the best position to land the Dominican phenom.

Money will be the deciding factor for Juan Soto – Heyman has made it clear that the team willing to make the most compelling financial offer could land the superstar. Moreover, reports suggest the deal could potentially exceed an eye-popping $700 million. That’s a price tag that would make Soto one of the highest-paid athletes in the world. 

Two unexpected teams take top positions in Juan Soto’s sweepstakes 

Speaking with Brandon London on SNY, Jon Heyman revealed that the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays are leading the charge for Soto’s signature. “If I were going to predict today—and I change every other day—I think it’s going to be about the money,” Heyman said, adding, “The teams that are going to be able to win the bidding war are probably the teams with the biggest advantage. I’m going to say right here, that the Mets, followed by the Blue Jays… would be my guess today.” So, what does that mean for the rest of the field?

For one, it’s clear that Juan Soto’s next contract is shaping up to be a record-breaker. For the Mets, team owner Steve Cohen is known for being unafraid to spend big. Adding Soto to their already-loaded roster would make them a greater force in the National League. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays are ready to build on their young core of stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette; pairing them with a bat like Soto would give them a great advantage through the AL. 

The Blue Jays might face a challenge

If the Jays pursue Juan Soto, they’ll face not just a challenging commitment of millions of dollars to the 26-year-old but also the tough decision of giving up valuable assets. As per sources, Soto has declined the Yankees‘ qualifying offer; so, any team that signs Soto, including the Blue Jays, would need to sacrifice a significant draft pick. And that could potentially weaken their farm system in the process.

While it’s always tough to part with future talent, the chance to add a game-changing player like Juan Soto could make it worthwhile. Soto is already a batting champion and World Series champion with the Washington Nationals. His 2024 season with the Yankees saw him smash 41 home runs and drive in 109 RBIs, showcasing that he’s in the prime of his career. 

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If the Jays can land Soto, they could be pairing him with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to form one of the most feared offensive duos in all of baseball. Plus, with Juan Soto finishing as a top-three MVP candidate in the American League this year, his presence could give Toronto to new heights in the AL race. For the Blue Jays, the potential reward might just outweigh the cost.