Free agency is now in full swing as the deadline for players to accept or reject qualifying offers has passed. Only one player out of 13 decided to accept the offer. The 12 remaining rejected the QO, including Atlanta lefty Max Fried.
However, most of the attention has been on the Juan Soto sweepstakes. The lefty slugger has been meeting with teams privately to decide his future in baseball. Most of the attention has been on the New York and LA markets.
MLB insider links Juan Soto to Braves' bitter NL East rival
However, MLB insider Jon Heyman announced on Tuesday that the Philadelphia Phillies plan on meeting with Soto very soon. While Soto landing with the Mets or Dodgers would be bad enough, the idea of him playing for the Phillies is nightmare fuel.
The Phillies haven’t met with Juan Soto yet but they plan to. Not many teams want to win more than them.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) November 19, 2024
The Phillies have bounced the Braves from the playoffs in two of the last three postseasons. Philadelphia even dethroned the Bravos for the NL East crown in 2024, ending a six-year run of consecutive division titles.
Philadelphia has become the biggest thorn in Atlanta's side. They certainly don't need any more ammo to help them beat up on the Braves.
Braves fans are all too familiar with Juan Soto as he terrorized Atlanta during the first 4 1/2 years in the league. Soto broke into Major League Baseball in 2018 at the age of 19. He carries a career .325 average with 12 doubles, 19 home runs, 51 RBI, 81 BB, 60 K, and a 1.118 OPS against Atlanta.
He was traded in 2022 to the Padres so they weren't rid of him just yet. Soto was then traded to the New York Yankees ahead of the 2024 season in a blockbuster deal. Atlanta fans could finally breathe easy as he left the National League.
However, the Dominican-born slugger declined his $21.05 qualifying offer and is now threatening to return. There is a lot of reason to believe the Phillies could shock everyone and sign Soto. He has a relationship with Phillies shortstop Trea Turner and current Philly hitting coach, Kevin Long.
Phillies could have the IT factor for Soto. Kevin Long, hitting coach, and Trea and Harper. https://t.co/rCrGNro0Il
— Dani Wexelman (@DaniWex) November 19, 2024
Those two factors alone could influence Soto to join a team that has done its best to dethrone Atlanta as the best team in the division. One player alone doesn't always make a difference but he is a top-tier talent who could make a major impact on any team.
He is coming off arguably his best season, in which he batted .288/.419/.569, hit 41 home runs, drove in 109 runs, and accumulated a 7.9 WAR. Those great numbers, alongside his successful career thus far, guarantee he will receive a blockbuster contract. Rumor has it that he and his agent, Scott Boras, are seeking a contract worth $600 million.
The chances of Soto landing in the NL East are extremely high, as two of Atlanta's biggest rivals with deep pockets court the lefty this offseason. Braves fans must prepare for a potential decade of facing a familiar foe.