It sure sounds like Juan Soto is closer than ever to returning to NL East

The Major League Baseball hot stove is barely simmering as super agent Scott Boras and his top client Juan Soto hold the offseason hostage. Like last winter's Shohei Ohtani watch, many free agents and teams are waiting for the MLB's top available superstar free agent to decide on a team for 2025, which will help set the market.

A small handful of teams have met with the 26-year-old generational hitter at a secret location near Newport Beach, CA. Three teams are known to have already made their initial pitch, the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and now the New York Mets.

Don't hold your breath; nothing is imminent, but from the most recent reports, the possibility of Soto returning to the NL East is higher than ever right now.

The rival Mets sound optimistic about their chances after first meeting with Juan Soto

The Philadelphia Phillies don't appear to be involved in the Soto sweepstakes, with no news of a trip out to the West Coast happening. That doesn't mean that the outcome of this winter's biggest free agent signing won't affect the 2024 NL East champions. The division rival Mets are rumored to be one of the top favorites to sign Soto to what will surely be a record-setting deal.

According to the New York Post's Jon Heyman, the Mets' meeting with Soto was a big production that left the team optimistic about being the victor in this winter's franchise-altering free agent chase.

"But one person suggested the Mets are “hopeful” — and maybe even optimistic — about their chances to win easily the biggest prize of this free-agent class," Heyman reported. "Sources say Mets baseball president David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza joined Cohen for the California confab, and are also said to have made a positive impression."

The New York Yankees, who will meet with Soto on Monday, are obviously still a major player. Seeing him return to the Bronx after a wildly successful debut season in Yankee pinstripes would be an excellent outcome for the Phillies. It would keep Soto out of the division and the National League for the next decade-plus.

Unfortunately, at least according to Heyman, the Mets appear to have an edge thanks to owner Steve Cohen's deep pockets and desire to spend to win.

"Though the Yankees are the incumbent, the Mets hold a few edges," Heyman said. "Starting with Cohen’s considerable wherewithal and his determination to bring a sustainable winner to Queens. The Mets, who’ve had MLB’s highest payroll the past two seasons, also made it to the NLCS this season and appear to be on the upswing."

"Cohen is viewed as their biggest edge," Heyman added. "As he’s shown a willingness to operate in the red, and is believed to have done so the past couple seasons in an effort to bring a winner to Queens. Additionally, they have $150M coming off their books, which also doesn’t hurt."

Seeing Juan Soto return to the NL East with the Mets would be a nightmare for the Phillies

Seeing Soto return to the NL East after two-plus seasons traversing the NL West and AL East would be tough for Phillies fans. Soto spent the first four and half seasons of his MLB career with the Washington Nationals, demolishing Phillies pitching to the tune of a .300 average and a 1.011 OPS.

To be fair, the Phillies aren't the same team as they were for much of that Soto-inflicted damage. But even this season, Soto went 5-for-12 (.417) with a 1.117 OPS in the three games that the Yankees played in Philadelphia.

When the Soto rumors first picked up steam after the World Series, Phillies fans thought their team had a chance to sign Soto. Boras even made a comment about Soto's desire to play for an organization that's committed to winning. That certainly describes the Phillies.

However, since then, the Phillies' role in the Soto headline-generating machine has gradually diminished. Managing partner John Middleton even said he figures they're a stalking horse in the bidding for Soto's services. It doesn't sound like they're even trying to make a pitch for Soto.

We'll just have to keep out fingers crossed that one of the other bidding teams bests the Mets and makes Soto another division's problem.

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