If you ask any team in Major League Baseball whether they’d want to sign Juan Soto, the answer would likely be an enthusiastic yes. Soto had an impressive season with the New York Yankees, hitting 41 home runs, driving in 109 RBIs, and posting an OPS of .989. His star power in free agency rivals that of Shohei Ohtani, creating a frenzy of interest among MLB teams.
Dan Patrick’s Take: The Cost is Too High
The Yankees want him back after he helped lead them to the Wild Card. The New York Mets’ owner, Steve Cohen, known for his deep pockets, is reportedly willing to outbid competitors by $50 million. Meanwhile, the Toronto Blue Jays, fresh off a failed pursuit of Ohtani last season, have significant funds to offer. Despite this, veteran sports commentator Dan Patrick recently poured cold water on these teams’ ambitions.
With super-agent Scott Boras representing Soto, the Dominican star is expected to command a staggering $600 million contract. But Patrick isn’t buying into the hype.“I don’t want him… No, no, no interest. Too much money for too many years,” Patrick stated on his show.
Patrick also questioned Soto’s ability to fill seats like a true box-office draw.
“If I’m paying that much, I want you to be the attraction. I want you to be box-office gold. Juan Soto isn’t that,” he argued, comparing Soto to other marquee names like Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and Bryce Harper.
Patrick highlighted that players like Ohtani bring unique value, including millions of international viewers from Japan, which can significantly inflate the value of their contracts.
A $300 Million Bargain?
Patrick acknowledged that he would sign Soto if the price were around $300 million. However, he quickly noted that Boras would never settle for such a deal.
“Soto is a great hitter, but he’s not worth $600 million,” Patrick concluded.
And he’s not wrong about Boras’ negotiating prowess. With decades of experience, Boras has consistently secured record-breaking deals for his clients, often through intense bidding wars.
Boras, never one to shy away from theatrics, has described Soto as the “Mona Lisa of Baseball”. Recent reports, albeit speculative, suggest that Soto could land a deal worth $660 million, with the Mets rumored to be in the mix.
Despite the speculation, one thing is clear: Boras will leave no stone unturned in securing a historic contract for Soto. Whether MLB teams believe Soto is worth the astronomical price tag remains to be seen, but Patrick’s skepticism reflects a growing debate about the true value of today’s baseball superstars.
