Phillies 'will be connected' to projected $513 million Yankees superstar, per insider

The Philadelphia Phillies have to know that their championship window is shrinking.

After making it to the World Series in 2022, the Phillies have run things back with the same core group in each of the following two seasons. And both times, they have flamed out progressively sooner in the Major League Baseball playoffs.

Though Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, and Kyle Schwarber are all locked in for years to come, they're all also over 30. The Phillies won't have many more cracks at a trophy if they keep running the same roster back out there.

There is certainly one move they could make if they want to extend their championship window, however. All it will cost them is a half-billion dollars, at a minimum.

25-year-old generational superstar Juan Soto of the New York Yankees is getting set to become a free agent for the first time. Phillies insider Matt Gelb of The Athletic expects Philadelphia to be in hot pursuit of Soto all winter long.

"The Phillies will be connected to the biggest offseason prize, Juan Soto, all winter. It would be foolish for the Phillies not to be involved in Soto’s market, although one of the New York teams stands to be the favorite to land him," Gelb said.

"Soto has maintained a close relationship with Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long; Soto’s camp will be sure to convey that message as they attempt to land a record-breaking contract. The Phillies, at least, could raise the price for a rival to sign Soto."

Soto was always going to command a huge price tag, but he elevated it this season with a 41-homer, 171 OPS+ performance with the Yankees. Spotrac currently projects his market value at 14 years, $513 million, and that number could even push up closer to $600 million.

If the Phillies are going to break the bank, there's hardly a better player to do so for. But as Gelb references, the Yankees and New York Mets will both be hot on Soto's tail. Getting him to Philadelphia could constitute something of a minor miracle.

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