There was an understanding that very nothing was guaranteed past the 2024 season when Juan Soto was acquired by the New York Yankees. After just one season in New York, Soto, who is in the final year of his contract and is expected to fetch over $600 million on the free market, may decide to pack up and depart.

Notably, Soto is a customer of Scott Boras, whose sole game is taking advantage of teams in free agency to extract as much money as possible. In the AL East, the Yankees are unstoppable, and Soto appears to be enjoying himself to the fullest of his career. All of that won’t matter if New York can’t deliver the Brink’s truck in a few months, even though Soto will likely win MVP votes and the Yankees will likely make noise in the postseason.

There are currently a number of competitors (and potential competitors) linked to Soto. Because of Steve Cohen’s large financial resources, the New York Mets are formidable contenders. The Philadelphia Phillies, who have multiple friends and former comrades on their squad, are never one to back down from a big salary. You could even try to get the San Diego Padres together. Hell, and this is going to be really awful, but it looks like the Los Angeles Dodgers will also throw in a bid.

The New York Post’s Jon Heyman estimates the Yankees have an equal chance of keeping Soto. The Yanks aren’t exactly cheap, but they also don’t have the biggest wallets. With ten more years of outstanding productivity still in him, Soto is a unique talent. The Yankees should and will undoubtedly make every effort to retain him.

If he does depart, though, the most entertaining scenario is one in which Soto finds himself leading an unexpected dark horse team. Mark DeRosa proposed a landing spot on MLB Network that would completely surprise baseball fans and change the power dynamic in intriguing ways.

What happens if Soto just goes back to the beginning?

Juan Soto might rejoin the Nationals in the biggest upset of free agency.
It’s really appealing to think about this option. In the National League, the Washington Nationals are a door-knocker. Mike Rizzo got a ton of prospects when he traded Soto all those years ago. James Wood and C.J. Abrams were virtually rebuilt as the centerpiece of Washington’s offense, and he added some serious throwing power.

Now that Washington’s Soto trade is starting to bear fruit, the Nats have a genuine opportunity to invite Soto back for a reunion. Though it’s uncertain how Soto would respond to such a suggestion, he seems at ease in Nationals Park, and the reunion concept has a certain lyrical charm.

Washington would be up against it in this situation as they are presently 13 games below.500 on the season. The Nats do not spend as much as the Dodgers or the teams in New York. Washington is also unable to highlight its competitive record while meeting with Soto. Although there is promise that has not yet been realized, there is no hard evidence to suggest that this Nats team is on the verge of winning the World Series. In addition to an extraordinary contract offer, Rizzo and the front office would need to put in a very valiant effort to get Soto back in the nation’s capital.

But never say never. Compared to, say, the Mets or the Phillies, there is less intrigue about playing in Washington because of the existing relationship. In free agency talks, Soto’s ability to anticipate outcomes is typically underestimated.