Sports
MLB offseason primer: Juan Soto tops free agent class
Oct 29, 2024; New York, New York, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto (22) doubles during the eighth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the 2024 MLB World Series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images Barely an hour after the final out of the World Series, New York Yankees slugger Juan Soto declared himself open for business on the free agent market.
His asking price might be beyond the comfort zone for most clubs, but Soto is keeping an open mind as he approaches the biggest payday of his life.
“I don’t know (which teams) are going to come after me,” Soto said at Yankee Stadium early Thursday morning. “Definitely, I’ll be open to this and every single team. I don’t have any doors closed. I’m gonna be available for all 30 teams.”
Soto figures to be the priciest centerpiece in free agency, which unofficially got underway once the Los Angeles Dodgers put away the New York Yankees in Game 5 on Wednesday. By rule, players can’t sign with new teams before Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
Other top free agent hitters available include third baseman Alex Bregman, first baseman Pete Alonso and shortstop Willy Adames. The top-tier pitchers in the market include right-hander Corbin Burnes and left-handers Max Fried and (probably) Blake Snell, who is widely expected to opt out of his contract with the San Francisco Giants. Snell’s most recent foray into free agency a year ago dragged into late March.
The wild card in free agency remains right-hander Roki Sasaki, who is said to the best pitcher in Japan. However, he would need to be allowed to leave by his Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines. A plurality of analysts (but not all) don’t expect Sasaki to jump to MLB yet. But he could.
The current restrictions on Sasaki’s contract for MLB theoretically could make him the most widely coveted player this offseason. He wouldn’t cost $325 million like Yoshinobu Yamamoto did with the Dodgers a year ago.
With the hot stove kicking on for 2024-25, let’s take a look at a potential destination for Soto this offseason, along with possible landing spots for other players said to be on the move, and where their movement might leave certain clubs.
–Juan Soto
Expect the deal for Soto to dwarf all others. His reported price, perhaps $55 million to $60 million annually and somewhere between $500 million and $700 million overall depending on contract length, might be prohibitive for many teams. Some analysts have predicted as many as 14 years for Soto, who just turned 26 last week. No matter the length, average annual value (AAV) or opt-outs, it’s virtually certain the Yankees and New York Mets will lead the pursuit, with the Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres also eager.
Soto batted .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, 129 walks, and a league-leading 128 runs scored in 2024 for the Yankees, who reached the World Series for the first time since 2009. Only teammate Aaron Judge and Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani performed as well better on offense individually, and Soto also is nominated for a Gold Glove. Come the postseason, Soto put up similarly dominant offensive numbers (.327/.469/.633 with four homers, nine RBIs and 14 walks in 14 games).
Soto had an opportunity two years ago to forgo free agency but turned down an extension offer from Washington reportedly worth 15 years and $440 million. And during the World Series, Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, told reporters the death of Padres owner Peter Seidler last November ended the chances of Soto signing an extension there. Instead, the Padres traded Soto to the Yankees.
Whatever the final figure, there is a good chance Soto’s deal will have more value than Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million agreement with the Dodgers from the previous offseason, which is closer to $460 million in present-day value because of deferrals and inflation. As with Ohtani a year ago, expect a deal around the time of the Winter Meetings, which start Dec. 9 in Dallas.
Prediction for Soto: 13 years, $702 million with the Mets.
–Roki Sasaki
Sasaki turns 23 years old on Sunday and throws 100 mph with a devastating splitter. If his Japanese team posts him, Sasaki’s U.S. salary (along with Chiba’s fee) would be limited by rules agreed to by the respective leagues.
Sasaki reportedly is going to ask to be posted for a second straight year, hoping the Marines have a change of heart. The Nippon Professional Baseball posting window lasts 45 days for negotiations and could open for Sasaski as soon as the Japanese postseason concludes this weekend.
A year ago, it took Yamamoto about 2 1/2 weeks to agree with the Dodgers after his posting window opened.
Prediction for Sasaki: Staying in Japan until at least next season.
–Corbin Burnes
Burnes, a four-time All-Star and former Cy Young Award winner, went 15-9 with a 2.92 ERA in 32 starts this year during his lone season in Baltimore.
New Orioles owner David Rubenstein has to nudge GM Mike Elias to start spending some cash to supplement the youth movement that ending up stalling the club’s ascent in 2024.
Prediction for Burnes: 6 years, $230 million with the Orioles.
–Alex Bregman
The Tigers made leaps and bounds in 2024 but still need to add everyday position players to supplement left-hander Tarik Skubal and overtake the Cleveland Guardians in the American Leaue Central. Adding a player such as Bregman, who would be reuniting with former Houston Astros manager A.J. Hinch, would allow Matt Vierling to play another position after he finished the 2024 season at third base.
Prediction for Bregman: 7 years, $179 million with the Detroit Tigers.
–Max Fried
The Braves have signed a lot of young talent to team-friendly deals, but keeping Fried is going to require a deeper investment.
Prediction for Fried: 6 years, $180 million with the Braves.
–Willy Adames
Fortifying shortstop was one area were the Dodgers failed in 2024, though Tommy Edman did come through on offense while manning the position in October. Adames would help Los Angeles on both offense and defense.
Prediction for Adames: 6 years, $155 million with the Dodgers.
–Blake Snell, Pete Alonso
The Yankees can explain letting Soto away, or could try to do so, by packaging Snell and Alonso to their fans, along with the return of Gerrit Cole after they add a guaranteed year to his contract to circumvent his opt-out. Stealing a Mets hero such as Alonso might soften the blow for Soto’s exit, and adding front-line depth to the rotation with Snell could help the Yankees position themselves for another World Series run.
Prediction for Snell: 3 years, $100 million with the Yankees.
Prediction for Alonso: 7 years, $195 million with the Yankees.
These signings leave second-tier players for teams such as the Astros, Phillies, Padres, Seattle Mariners, Kansas City Royals and Arizona Diamondbacks.
–David Brown, Field Level Media
Sports
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
Oct 1, 2024; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Las Vegas Aces center A’ja Wilson (22) and New York Liberty forward Breanna Stewart (30) during game two of the 2024 WNBA Semi-finals at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images LAS VEGAS — Entering her eighth season in the WNBA, Las Vegas Aces superstar A’ja Wilson is poised to build on what was arguably the most dominant individual campaign in league history.
Wilson joined Cynthia Cooper (1997) as the second player in league history to win a unanimous MVP award and joined an exclusive club as the fourth player to win the award three times. She averaged 26.9 points and 11.9 rebounds per game last season and set the all-time single-season mark for points (1,021) and rebounds (451).
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, injuries and fatigue from their two previous championship runs mounted and resulted in the team’s worst regular-season record (27-13) since 2019. The Aces’ three-peat hopes ended with a 76-62 home loss to the New York Liberty to drop their semifinal series 3-1.
It’s that loss on her home floor that served as Wilson’s motivation this offseason.
“Losing sucks, especially on your home court,” Wilson said “It still kind of burns a little bit, but I’ve used that as fuel to help my teammates understand how hard it is to win in this league. Yes, we can celebrate the two championships. They were great. But for us to move forward, we have to understand how hard this league is and value the basketball and the little things. I think that’s what we lacked last season, so we’re going to make sure that we can show up better than we did.”
While the Aces appeared to be on top of the world heading into their potential three-peat campaign in 2024, the reality inside the locker room was that both the internal and external pressure to win another championship had become suffocating. A common theme across media day was the fact that the team feels less pressure entering the 2025 season, a sentiment Wilson shared as the unquestioned leader of the team.
“(Three-peat talks) obviously impacted us, because it’s like, y’all think we don’t want to win? We’re trying as well,” Wilson said.
“I would definitely say it’s refreshing this year. I feel like this is one of my only years where it feels like there’s no weight. There’s a lot of weight to be defending champs. It’s a lot of weight to be trying to win one. We don’t have that. We actually have a clean slate to really dial into getting back to who we are culturally, like, in our system and everything.”
Leading the Aces back to the top of the mountain for a third time in four years is one of a few historically significant achievements Wilson can collect this upcoming season. Wilson could also become the first four-time MVP in league history, though the meaning of that is something she hasn’t quite allowed herself to ponder yet.
“I haven’t given it much thought, but it would be a blessing to have my name in that conversation,” Wilson said. “Every year, I try to be better than I was the year before just to give myself a chance in this league. Because the league is getting better. We’re growing. At this point, you just want to maintain your stamina. You want to maintain your mental, all of that, because the season gets hard. I can’t think too much about that just yet, but I’m definitely going to try to be better than I was last year.”
As Aces coach Becky Hammon put it, fans can expect to see an even better version of Wilson this season.
“What I see is, she went and got better,” Hammon said. “Which is hard to do when you’re already the best, but it speaks to her work ethic, her desire and her mindset this whole offseason. We talked a lot this offseason. She’s a busy lady, but I can tell you what she always does is her workouts. She’s always getting her workouts in. That comes first and foremost, she never gets her priorities jumbled up.”
When Hammon was asked what a player like Wilson would possibly need to improve after last season’s campaign, the coach did not feel like revealing too much.
“There was (something for Wilson to improve), and she did,” Hammon said. “I’m not going to tell you what it was. Actually, there were two things.”
–Will Despart, Field Level Media
Sports
Jacob Wilson joins Aaron Judge in spotlight for Yankees-A's series
May 5, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (5) throws to first for an out against the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Lee-Imagn Images The top two hitters in the majors square off Friday night when the New York Yankees face the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in Sacramento, Calif.
It’s no surprise to see Yankees star Aaron Judge off to a superb start after winning American League MVP honors last season. He has a major league-best .400 batting average and entered Thursday’s play tied for the big-league lead with 12 homers and 34 RBIs.
But who had Athletics rookie Jacob Wilson ranking second in the majors at .357 as the season nears the quarter pole? Wilson has played in just 64 career games and quickly has solidified himself as a future All-Star, perhaps even this season.
Sharing the marquee board with Judge seems quite surreal for the 23-year-old shortstop who was the No. 6 overall pick of the 2023 draft.
“It’s a great feeling, for sure,” Wilson said of his name being mentioned with Judge. “Obviously, everybody has seen what he is doing. It’s pretty incredible watching him do his thing on a daily basis. To be up there with him is pretty cool for me.
“I’m excited to play against him this week and see what it looks like in person.”
Wilson had his first career four-hit game during Wednesday’s 6-5 home loss against the Seattle Mariners and has six multi-hit outings in the past eight games. He went 8-for-14 with one game-winning hit in the three-game series against the Mariners and is 16-for-34 (.471) with four walks during the eight-game stretch.
The hot hitting led to Athletics manager Mark Kotsay moving Wilson to the leadoff spot on Wednesday. Kotsay indicated Wilson may be sticking at the top of the lineup.
“I think you’ll see Jacob up there now,” Kotsay said. “Jacob’s earned it. … Jacob has shown enough over the last week. He’s walking and taking pitches, and, obviously, swinging the bat really well.”
Judge arrives in Sacramento in the midst of a four-game funk in which he is 2-for-15.
The two-time MVP just went 1-for-10 in a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres, but the one hit was a homer.
Judge grew up 50 miles south of Sacramento in Linden and starred for Linden High but wasn’t highly sought by major league teams. The then-Oakland Athletics selected him in the 31st round in 2010.
Judge instead went the college route and starred for Fresno State. He was chosen in the first round (32nd overall) by the Yankees in the 2013 draft.
Trent Grisham was one of the heroes of Wednesday’s 4-3, 10-inning win over the Padres. He hit a tying two-run pinch-hit homer in the eighth inning.
Grisham had two homers and five RBIs in the series against the Padres — one of his former teams — and already has 10 long balls in just 89 at-bats. He hit just nine last season in 179 at-bats.
“I’m having fun with the guys, I would say that more than anything,” Grisham said. “The clubhouse is really good in here, led by Cap (Judge). So, I would say the guys have been the most enjoyable part.”
New York is starting right-hander Will Warren (1-2, 5.65 ERA) in Friday’s series opener. Right-hander Osvaldo Bido (2-2, 4.71) will be on the mound for the Athletics.
Warren, 25, struck out a career-high eight in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. He gave up five runs (three earned) and seven hits. Warren hasn’t previously faced the Athletics.
Bido, 29, received a no-decision against the Miami Marlins last Saturday when he gave up four runs on three hits over five innings. He is winless (0-1) over his last three starts. Bido hasn’t faced the Yankees.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Report: Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao coming out of retirement
Aug 21, 2021; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manny Pacquiao (right) fights Yordenis Ugas in a world welterweight championship bout at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao plans to end his retirement and return to the ring on July 19 against Mario Barrios in Las Vegas, ESPN reported Thursday.
Pacquiao, 46, will be fighting for the first time since losing a unanimous decision to Yordenis Ugas in 2021.
The fight will be for Barrios’ WBC welterweight championship belt. Barrios turns 30 on May 18.
Pacquiao is an eight-division champion who is slated to be inducted into the boxing Hall of Fame in June. He reportedly will formally announce his return to boxing next week. The report stated that Pacquiao has been cleared to compete by the Nevada State Athletic Commission.
In recent years, Pacquiao has been focusing on his political career in the Philippines.
The boxer nicknamed “PacMan” has a 62-8-2 record with 39 knockouts during his career. He won his first major title — the WBC flyweight crown — at age 19 in 1998.
Pacquiao was 54-3-2 prior to turning 33 and 8-5 afterward. One of those losses was to Floyd Mayweather Jr. via unanimous decision in 2015, a bout that reportedly drew nearly $400 million in pay-per-view sales.
Barrios (29-2-1, 18 knockouts) fought to a 12-round, split-decision draw against Abel Ramos last November. This will be his third defense since winning the title by beating Ugas in 2023.
–Field Level Media
A'ja Wilson has no shortage of motivation after Aces' early exit in '24
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