The World Series is still ongoing. I understand this. But all eyes in the baseball world are watching Juan Soto and trying to get an idea of ​​his upcoming free agency.

It’s possible Soto, 26, could be one of the best free agents in baseball history not named Shohei Ohtani. It wouldn’t surprise anyone if his final contract exceeded $500 million, and it wouldn’t even surprise anyone if that total exceeded $600 million. Soto and his manager, Scott Boras, will control the offseason and will have no shortage of teams (especially big-market franchises) retaining his services on one of the richest contracts in baseball.

There’s already a lot of speculation surrounding Soto’s approaching free agency. Let’s dive into this and figure out what’s real and what’s not.

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Every report on the subject Yankees‘ The desire to re-sign Soto is correct. After all, how could they not want Soto to return?

In one year, Soto has proven to be a success in the Bronx. He is one of the best players in baseball and arguably formed the best duo with Aaron Judge. In 157 games with New York, Soto hit .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs and a 178 OPS+, the second-best mark of his career.

Right now, the Yankees should be considered the early favorites to sign Soto. A place he loved. The Yankees like to have him around Judge. They parted ways with several candidates to acquire him from the San Diego Padres last winter. And by keeping Soto, he would preserve the Yankees’ World Series window for years to come.

Moreover, these are the New York Yankees. They should never be outbid for a player they like and want to transfer. Losing him in free agency would be an organizational failure of epic proportions.

But if the Yankees don’t re-sign Soto, the most realistic option is for him to join the club. New York Mets.

If there is a player Steve Cohen wants, he will go and get him. His pocketbooks are deeper than any owner in baseball, and he can outbid anyone for his services. It’s that simple. And Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has made it clear that he is open to bidding on any player during free agency.

This means Soto will definitely be on the Mets’ radar and is a realistic possibility. It wouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in the baseball world if the Soto sweepstakes ultimately came down to the Yankees and Mets.

The Dodgers are expected to make an offer for Soto, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

Would I buy this? Yes. I’m skeptical about how realistic their chances of signing Soto actually are.

Shohei Ohtani’s contract with the Dodgers — 10 years, $700 million with $680 million deferred — allows them to remain aggressive in their pursuit of top free agents. Soto is a generational talent, and it’s clear the Dodgers like to have elite players all over the roster. Soto is friendly with several players on the Dodgers’ roster, as evidenced by his conversations with Ohtani and others at the All-Star Game.

But Soto likes playing in New York, closer to his family in the Dominican Republic. It may be difficult to get Soto to agree to a contract that includes significant deferred money and the contracts of Ohtani, Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts all contain deferred money, which could create an imbalance in the Dodgers’ locker room.

I fully expect the Dodgers to have some conversations regarding Soto. I don’t think he’s going to Los Angeles.

I’m still thinking Philadelphia Phillies There should be no discounts on Soto draws. Like the Dodgers, I don’t think the Phillies are the most likely destination. But they are a team I watch for many reasons.

Soto, who played alongside Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber, has relationships within the Phillies organization. Kevin Long, the hitting coach in Washington, is Philadelphia’s hitting coach and the two have a strong relationship. The Phillies, especially owners John Middleton and Dave Dombrowski, love star players, and Soto fits the bill.

I think the Phillies are the sleeper in the Soto sweepstakes and are definitely a team worth watching. After all, they made a lucrative $300 million offer to Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter. They have money for a big deal. Who told Soto they couldn’t make another one?