Why door is open for Dodgers to pursue Juan Soto in free agency

There's plenty of time left in the 2024 season and a host of problems for the Dodgers that could keep them from hoisting a World Series trophy. However, it's worth looking ahead to free agency when a player like Juan Soto is involved.

The Yankees slugger is set to hit the free agent market this offseason and while New York is expected to re-sign him, insight from ESPN's MLB insiders leaves the door wide open for a team to swoop in and snag the 25-year-old four-time All-Star. While Los Angeles wasn't mentioned directly, the latest on Soto's future is related to the Dodgers at least tangentially.

Via ESPN's Buster Olney :

Hal Steinbrenner's comments earlier this season about being open to signing Juan Soto during the regular season completely perplexed executives who have negotiated with Soto's agent, Scott Boras. "I am not sure why he would say that," one said. "Boras is not going to get a superstar this close to free agency" -- to open bidding between rival teams -- "and then limit himself to negotiating with one team. All it does is raise expectations of fans."

At last check, there had been no recent conversations about a Soto megadeal between the Yankees and Boras and no momentum toward a deal before he reaches free agency. In the end, Soto might face this choice: Either take the Yankees' best offer, to play alongside Aaron Judge in a place where he seems to be having fun in 2024, or take more money from another team.

It sounds at the very least like Soto is bound to hit free agency.

Perhaps the tie with Judge and the prospect of success in a huge market like New York is what matters most to the superstar.

However, the chance that he goes to the highest bidder puts the Dodgers in play. Jorge Castillo from ESPN specifically mentioned the Phillies as a team that could get in the mix, but LA has an opportunity to jump into the mix too.

Whether they will remains to be seen. It's hard to imagine they won't at least entertain the possibility. That Soto won't sign during the year and may not be committed to New York beyond the 2024 campaign is ultimately a plus for the Dodgers' chances to land baseball's biggest free agent for the second consecutive year.