Phillies Could Still Meet With Juan Soto, Who May Sign Before Winter Meetings

There's no indication that the Phillies are a serious contender for Juan Soto, but it appears they are still doing their due diligence.

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand posted an update on the Soto sweepstakes Monday, noting that he's slated to meet with the World Series Champion Los Angeles Dodgers soon, with meetings in the books already with the New York Mets, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays. The incumbent New York Yankees were slated to make their pitch Monday, per Feinsand. 

As for the Phillies? Well, there's this. 

"According to sources, other teams that could meet with Soto include the Giants, Phillies and Rays." 

Phillies managing partner John Middleton seemed to downplay the likelihood of a Soto signing earlier this month, pointing to the fact that most seem to think Soto will either be a Yankee or Met. 

"I'm afraid Juan Soto wants to be in New York, and I don't mind being a stalking horse, " Middleton said, according to Conor Smith of The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

"At some point, if Dave and I get that feeling, we'll probably say 'You know what, we're not going to win this' because we've both been the stalking horse before. And if I were an agent, I would do it too. It's perfectly good strategy. I mean, it's smart. But at the end of the day, I just think he likes New York." 

John Middleton: ‘I’m Afraid Juan Soto Wants To Be in New York’https://t.co/rR5UlgcOr8

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) November 9, 2024

Soto, 26, is one of the most accomplished players to ever reach free agency, having just won the fifth Silver Slugger Award of his career last week. He's also coming off of arguably the best season of his career, having homered 41 times with 109 RBIs, 129 walks, a .989 OPS and an 8.1 WAR for the Yankees. 

Over on Bleacher Report, I projected that Soto will sign a 14-year/$658 million deal with the Yankees that allows him to opt out and return to free agency after the 2030 season, which would be the sixth year of the pact. Surely, the deal will include a full no-trade clause as well. 

As for when Soto will sign, it's always hard to predict those type of things with Scott Boras clients. Feinsand says the "feeling around the industry is that the slugger could make his decision prior to the Winter Meetings, which get underway on Dec. 9 in Dallas." He then pointed to some Boras clients who have signed before the New Year, such as Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon and Stephen Strasburg. 

Of course, last winter Boras clients such as Cody Bellinger, Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery were free agents for months. That was also the case with Bryce Harper after the 2018 season, as he didn't come to terms with the Phillies on his 13-year/$330 million deal until the final days of February.  

Lucky isn't the right word. But Juan Soto's free agency shows how fortunate the Phillies were with Bryce Harper.

Allow me to explain... @OnPattison https://t.co/23vv5Z4aOd

— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) November 16, 2024