Phillies’ path to afford Juan Soto sounds simple when explained like this

The 2024 Major League Baseball season is officially over, so it’s time to look ahead to 2025. The Philadelphia Phillies had their best season since 2011, but it ended quickly with a Division Series loss in the playoffs to the New York Mets in four games.

The Phillies have one of the highest payrolls in baseball. It’s hard to imagine the organization adding a star player this offseason, but it’s not impossible. A New York Yankees outfielder who’s now a free agent could find a new home in the City of Brotherly Love.

Phillies’ path to afford Juan Soto sounds simple when explained like this

The prized free agent in this year’s class is Juan Soto. The left-handed slugger broke onto the scene as a 19-year-old rookie in 2018 with the Washington Nationals and finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting behind Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. He’s been one of the best players ever since.

Soto is the exact player the Phillies are looking for. He’s an all-around elite hitter who also draws a lot of walks. He’s a left-handed bat who can play either corner outfield spot or be used as a designated hitter. Soto just turned 26 years old in October so age isn’t a factor.

Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Nick Castellanos, Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto are all signed to large deals with the Phillies. Without looking too deep into the payroll, it seems like there would be no way the Phillies could afford a player like Soto. He’s projected to receive a contract between 10-15 years and well north of $500 million.

There is a way that Soto could end up playing his home games at Citizens Bank Park. Schwarber and Realmuto are both heading into the final year of their contracts. About $40 million will be off the Phillies payroll after 2025. Not to mention Castellanos’ contract expires after the 2026 season, so another $20 million will be freed up.

Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has a track record of going after star players. He mentioned the front office isn’t necessarily looking to add a star player during his end-of-season press conference but if the money makes sense and there’s mutual interest, it’s hard to imagine him not going after a player like Soto in free agency.

“If I do a Bryce Harper type deal that today is probably 15 [years] $600 [million], OK, I can do it,” analyst and former MLB executive Jim Bowden said during a segment on MLB Network Radio about the Phillies' chances of landing Soto in free agency, per Phillies Tailgate on X. “I can show my owner how I’m not increasing payroll. I’m just gonna backload the first couple years a little bit, and I’m gonna show him that pathway. On that balance sheet, I’m gonna show him how it absolutely fits.”

Bowden predicts Soto will end up with the Yankees, Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers or Phillies.

The Phillies would get a generational talent in Juan Soto

Soto was a key piece on the Nationals’ 2019 World Series team in just his second major league season. He hit 34 home runs and had a career-high 110 RBI. 

Soto won the batting title in the shortened 2020 season with a .351 average and won his first of three consecutive Silver Slugger Awards. He slashed .313/.465/.534 with a .999 OPS, 29 home runs, 95 RBI and was named to the first All-Star Game of his career in 2021. He finished second in NL MVP voting behind Harper.

Soto was traded to the San Diego Padres during the 2022 season in a blockbuster deal. He remained with the Padres through 2023 before the Yankees acquired him in a blockbuster trade ahead of the 2024 season.

The Yankees finished as the best team in the American League, and Soto played a large part in it. He slashed .288/.419/.569 with a .989 OPS, a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBI. He was named to the fourth All-Star Game of his seven-year career.

Soto’s success in 2024 didn’t end in the regular season. He slashed .327/.469/.633 with a 1.101 OPS, three doubles, four home runs, nine RBI and 12 runs scored in 14 playoff games on a team that went to the World Series.

Any team would be lucky to have a player like Soto. The Phillies are in the sweepstakes for now, but it’s ultimately going to come down to who can offer the most money and the best situation.

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