Minutes after the World Series ended, the Juan Soto free-agent conversation started back up. Do the Phillies have any realistic shot to land him?
It didn't take after the final out of the World Series Wednesday night for Juan Soto to be asked about his upcoming free agency.
Soto was the key figure in the Yankees' one-year transformation from 82-80 to American League champion. He hit a career-high 41 home runs, had his best full season in the majors and then raked in all three rounds of the playoffs.Adding to the drama is the looming threat of the Mets, who carried by far baseball's largest payroll in 2024, an estimated $336 million.
The Phillies are obviously a big spender, as well. Their 2024 payroll, from a luxury tax perspective, ended up in the $260 million range. They're projected to enter 2025 at just about the same number after factoring in the raise for Zack Wheeler and those due to Ranger Suarez, Alec Bohm, Stott, Marsh and Edmundo Sosa.
"I don't think we need to have more star players," Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said two weeks ago."We have as many stars as about anybody in baseball so I don't think necessarily that you need to add more. John is very accommodating and giving, but you're also in a position where you're still working with a payroll.
So in terms of free-agent hitters capable of moving the needle, it's Bregman, Hernandez and maybe O'Neill and Santander who would fit for the Phillies positionally.
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