MLB Insider Reveals Los Angeles Dodgers’ Surprising Odds Of Juan Soto Signing

The Los Angeles Dodgers finished the regular season atop the final MLB power rankings , in large part thanks to the offseason additions of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Teoscar Hernandez in MLB free agency. Now, it appears Juan Soto could be among the Dodgers free-agent targets this winter.

For now, Los Angeles is focused on the MLB postseason and its efforts to recapture a World Series title in a full 162-game season for the first time since 1988. If the Dodgers accomplish their goal, it will be in large part due to the team’s willingness to open up the checkbook to attract top players in free agency.

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• Juan Soto stats ( ESPN ): .288/.418/.572, .990 OPS, 41 home runs, 108 RBI, 31 doubles in 570 at-bats this season

Just a year ago, the Dodgers committed to spending more than $1 billion total on Ohtani, Hernandez, and Yamamoto. The team’s decision-making was rewarded this year with Ohtani making MLB history in a Dodgers’ uniform and Hernandez returning to All-Star form at the plate.

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However, a myriad of injuries to the likes of Freddie Freeman, Tyler Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw, Gavin Stone, and River Ryan could ultimately prevent the Dodgers from winning it all. If that happens, Los Angeles could maintain its aggressiveness this winter to further upgrade the Dodgers roster.

Jon Heyman of the New York Post recently wrote that he believes the Dodgers are the “biggest threat outside New York” to sign Soto this offseason. He also notes that Soto is open to making a return to the West Coast, as he was previously willing to sign with the San Diego Padres.

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Soto has two primary factors he’ll be weighing heavily this offseason. First, he wants to sign a long-term contract with a team that can put him in a position to contend for a World Series title throughout his deal. The Dodgers, a perennial World Series contender, have that going for them even more so than the New York Yankees and New York Mets.

Money is the second factor at play. Soto wants to be one of the highest paid MLB players ever, seeking a contract north of $500-plus million total that would make him the highest-paid outfielder in baseball history. That will be the complicating factor for Los Angeles.

The Dodgers payroll in 2025 is already projected at $171.66 million, with three players earning $27-plus million in salary. However, low salaries for Yamamoto ($14.5 million), Ohtani ($2 million) and Tommy Edman ($9.5 million) at least leave some room for spending. For now, though, the Yankees and Mets are viewed as the overwhelming favorites to sign Soto.

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