Juan Soto’s Buddy Says Blue Jays Prepping ‘Astronomical Offer’

The face I made upon seeing this report is exactly the same as the one Juan Soto is making in the featured image, so file it under “Dubious as hell but still worth sharing because there’s nothing else to talk about” for now.

According to Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media, a former Soto teammate who is still close with the Yankees outfielder says the Blue Jays are preparing an “astronomical offer” in excess of $500 million. There’s a little smoke here since Toronto was heavily involved in the Shohei Ohtani dealings and should theoretically be willing to spend big.

“I heard it with my own ears,” the anonymous source said. “The Blue Jays think Soto would be perfect for their lineup and team. I know their management thinks Soto and Guerrero for them would be what Soto and (Aaron) Judge were like this year for the Yankees.”

Welp, there goes my initial thought that landing Soto would mean moving on from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is going to command a very large long-term deal of his own after next season. If the Jays really are thinking of it this way and were able to pull it off, that means most folks’ top two Cubs targets are out of reach. Not that anyone really thinks they’ll be in on Soto in a meaningful way.

The source went on to say he advised Soto to go where he knows he can win, adding that no one knows where the superstar is leaning. Would a real friend and experienced MLB player be sharing stuff like this on the record, regardless of anonymity? I have to say, it has some serious clout-chasing energy.

“I think he’ll get $40 million a year for 15 years,” this so-called friend predicted while also saying he doubts Soto accepts any deferred money. “That’s $600 million.”

Good math, dude. As strong as my doubts remain, the Cubs would be fools not to engage if that’s really what Soto is willing to accept. That $40 million AAV figure is far from prohibitive and it’ll feel like less relatively speaking as the deal goes on. Given his age, Soto should have another good decade in him. Maybe juice the AAV and lower the duration.

Alas, the rumors and predictions are only going to intensify between now and whenever Soto signs his next deal.