The Los Angeles Dodgers’ selection of Shohei Ohtani made the 2023 MLB Free Agency period one of the most thrilling in league history. However, during the 2024 window, another star player might switch sides. Star player Juan Soto of the New York Yankees is set to hit free agency in the winter, and late in July, he expressed an important insight that was picked up by a reputable MLB Insider.

When asked who in MLB he would still like to play with, Soto mentioned Shohei Ohtani of the Dodgers. Thus, columnist Jon Heyman of the New York Post said that Soto’s preferred pairing with Ohtani would imply a wintertime departure from New York. It’s possible that Soto accepts bids from the West.

Soto is reportedly enjoying his time in pinstripes, and some people even think he would rather stay on the East Coast. However, according to The Post, he was in serious conversations with the Padres last summer, but those talks were put on hold when late Padres owner Peter Seidler fell ill, Heyman wrote.

Juan Soto spent two years with the Padres before being traded to the Yankees in December of 2023. Soto has performed up to expectations, contributing significantly to the club thus far. The 25-year-old has amassed 66 RBI, hit 23 home runs, and has an OPS of.985 through 94 games—all of which are in the top 10 MLB ranks. Furthermore, his batting average of.295 places him in 14th place in the league.

With Soto’s assistance, the Yankees had a great start in 2024 and went on to win the AL East title for a large chunk of the year. Before the All-Star break, New York began to fade, going 4-6 in their final ten games. They are still ranked second in the category, though.

What will be Juan Soto’s MLB Free Agency destination in 2024?

There’s a decent chance Soto will stay in the Bronx if he keeps up his strong play and helps the Yankees go deep into the postseason. But as Heyman pointed out, he might try to realize his ambition of playing with Shohei Ohtani with the Dodgers. Heyman stated that Soto’s decision will “largely come down to the deal,” or the cash offer he receives, even though opportunity and individuals are important considerations.

A group of MLB Insiders got together in June to forecast how much money Soto may fetch. According to ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, their answers suggested that the star first baseman would receive about $500 million spread over a number of years.

A contract for 11.6 years and $482.2 million, with an average annual value (AAV) of $41.4 million, was the average of all predictions. The deals’ median projections, which were $500 million and 13 years, were in line with the industry consensus on Soto’s contract.

McDaniel also shared his opinions on the potential competitors for Soto’s services.

“Although it’s still extremely early, our panel of baseball insiders discussed various scenarios, and the Yankees and Mets were by far the most frequently mentioned teams. The San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers, Washington Nationals, and San Francisco Giants were all mentioned frequently, but McDaniel claimed that at this moment, all other teams are viewed as second-class to the New York clubs.

It will be intriguing to watch where the great player for the Yankees ends up during the highly anticipated MLB Free Agency season.