Dodgers expected to participate in Juan Soto free agent market

The Dodgers' focus is on Juan Soto is currently busy figuring out how to get the bat out as the World Series progresses, but once the offseason begins, the club could look to add Soto to its own lineup. The New York Post's Jon Heyman reports that the Dodgers are interested in Soto and will pursue a more extensive pursuit when he visits Los Angeles “if he is interested.”

As Heyman notes, the Dodgers' deep financial resources have allowed them to at least look at virtually every major free agent in recent years. Therefore, it would be unusual if LA did not have Soto on its offseason wish list. The Dodgers are also one of the few teams that can come close to meeting Soto's asking price, which is widely believed to be the most guaranteed money ever given to a baseball player. The reservation “in advance” is therefore necessary Shohei OhtaniSoto's $700 million deal is so heavily deferred that the contract's current value is about $437.8 million, and Soto's next deal is expected to top $500 million.

According to RosterResource, the Dodgers already have around $257.2 million for their 2025 payroll, as well as an estimate of $253.1 million for their luxury tax number. The latter puts the Dodgers over the tax limit again ($241 million) for next season, and of course adding Soto for an average annual value of at least $50 million would put the club in the highest tax penalty bracket of $301 million US dollars exceeds. Since Los Angeles has already been a taxpaying team for the past four seasons, exceeding the $301 million threshold would more than double the amount of the team's tax on any excess above the $241 million mark.

Of course, the luxury tax obviously hasn't been a major issue for the Dodgers in their search for top talent. With Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu YamamotoAnd Will Smith signed for the rest of the decade and Freddie Freeman And Tyler Glasnow Both are signed through at least 2027, the Dodgers won't be under the tax cap anytime soon, and the financial penalty is offset by the simple fact that the team is a revenue-generating juggernaut.

There are many obvious reasons why Soto would have his own interest in joining a perennial contender like the Dodgers, although geography remains the question surrounding Soto's impending free agency. While Soto and Padres owner Peter Seidler made some progress in extension talks before Seidler's death a year ago, Heyman reiterates the long-held belief that, all things being equal, Soto would prefer to play on a team on the East Coast. This could make the Yankees or Mets the favorites to sign him this winter, as the two New York teams are a better fit for Soto's location and contract preferences.

While the Yankees and Mets could spark a nice bidding war on their own, Soto and agent Scott Boras would certainly have a vested interest in keeping other teams in the running, be they the Dodgers or other potential suitors like the Giants, Blue Jays or Nationals. If the Dodgers realize that Soto's interest in coming to LA is more limited, the team could easily move on to a number of other options on the free agent market.

For example, a new signing Teoscar Hernandez would be much cheaper than signing Soto, and Hernandez is already a known quantity in Los Angeles and a major offensive force in his own right. Heyman also expects the Dodgers to look to add another big pitcher to their injury-plagued rotation, even if Ohtani, Glasnow, Clayton Kershawand others are expected to be healthy by opening day.