Juan Soto rumors: Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox and Blue Jays have offered contracts | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto has reportedly received a contract offer from five teams so far this offseason.

According to NJ.com’s Randy Miller and MLB Network’s Jon Morosi, the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays have all made offers to Soto.

Soto is widely considered the biggest prize in MLB free agency this offseason after finishing third in the American League MVP voting and leading the Yankees to a World Series appearance last season.

According to Brendan Kuty of The Athletic, Soto is expected to receive “multiple rounds of offers,” with the goal of gauging interest and screening out candidates as the process progresses.

Kuty added that the next round of bids could begin next week and a final decision could be made around the time of the winter meetings, which will be held Dec. 9-12 in Dallas.

Last offseason, Shohei Ohtani set a new record for the richest contract in MLB history when he signed a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Dodgers.

This move paid immediate dividends for the Dodgers, as he had the first season in MLB history with at least 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases, was named National League MVP, and led LA to a World Series title.

While Soto might have a hard time challenging Ohtani’s contract since the Dodgers have him signed as both a hitter and a starter going forward, Soto still figures to make one of the biggest deals of all time.

MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand wrote earlier this month that the “general consensus” is that Soto will receive a $500 million contract over 10 years as a floor, although the value is $600 million or could achieve more if the teams got into a bidding war.

It’s rare for a superstar as young as Soto to become available in free agency, which will no doubt help generate interest.

Despite only turning 26 last month, Soto is already a four-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, one-time batting champion and one-time World Series champion.

After playing with the Washington Nationals and San Diego Padres, the Yankees acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Padres last offseason.

It was a risky move as the Yanks brought in a player whose contract was expiring, but he proved to be a perfect fit in the Bronx, slashing .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and 128 runs scored.

Soto won a Silver Slugger Award and was a finalist for the Gold Glove. He also finished third in MVP voting, behind only teammate Aaron Judge and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt.

Additionally, Soto was arguably the Yankees’ best player during their World Series playoff run, hitting .327 with four home runs and nine RBI in 14 postseason games.

The Yankees can spend as much as any team, and they proved that last offseason when they signed Judge to a nine-year, $360 million deal that will likely result in him spending the rest of his career in pinstripes becomes.

Soto is also now familiar with the Yankees’ organization and realizes how dominant he and Judge can be in their lineup as well.

All of these factors could potentially give the Yankees a leg up on the competition, but the Dodgers and Mets have proven they can spend just as much as the Yankees, so they must be considered legitimate contenders as well.

The Red Sox and Blue Jays haven’t been as aggressive as the teams mentioned above when it comes to major signings recently, but they might be motivated to pay up for Soto knowing that signing him would be a big deal for their rivals AL East, the Yankees, would be significantly weakened.