The Dodgers are currently focused on Juan Soto and figuring out how to acquire the slugger during the remainder of the World Series, but once the offseason begins, the club could acquire Soto himself. There is a possibility that we will consider adding it to our lineup. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that the Dodgers are interested in Soto and would begin pursuing him in a more serious manner “if there is interest” in coming to Los Angeles.
As Heyman points out, the Dodgers’ deep pockets have allowed them to check out at least virtually every major free agent in recent years, so if anything, L.A. is high on their offseason wish list. It would be unusual not to include it. The Dodgers are also one of the few teams that could reasonably meet Soto’s asking price. The offer is widely expected to be the highest upfront guarantee ever given to a baseball player. Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract has been significantly delayed, and that contract is currently worth about $437.8 million, with Soto’s next contract expected to be worth more than $500 million. Therefore, it is necessary to be careful in advance.
According to RosterResource, the Dodgers have already committed approximately $257.2 million in payroll for 2025, and the luxury tax number is also estimated at $253.1 million. The latter would once again put the Dodgers over the tax threshold for next season ($241 million), and of course acquiring Soto for an average annual minimum of $50 million puts the club at the highest tax penalty threshold. It will be worth more than $310 million. Los Angeles is already a tax-paying team for the past four seasons, so exceeding the $301 million threshold would more than double the team’s taxes on any excess amount over $241 million.
Of course, the luxury tax is clearly not a major concern for the Dodgers in acquiring top talent. Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Will Smith have 10 years remaining, and Freddie Freeman and Tyler Glasnow are under contract through at least 2027, so the Dodgers won’t be able to escape the tax regime anytime soon. This penalty is offset by the simple fact that the team is a revenue-generating behemoth.
While there are many obvious reasons why Soto would be interested in a move to a perennial contender like the Dodgers, geography still lingers regarding Soto’s impending free agency. Soto and Padres owner Peter Seidler made some progress in contract extension negotiations before Seidler’s death a year ago, but Heyman said that all things being equal, Soto would be on the East Coast. He reiterated his long-held belief that he would prefer to play for a team in the United States. This could make the Yankees or Mets the frontrunners to sign him this winter, as New York’s two teams may better suit Soto’s preferences in terms of both location and contract.
The Yankees and Mets alone could spark a great bidding war, but Soto and his agent Scott Boras are considering other potential suitors, whether it’s the Dodgers or the Giants, Blue Jays, or Nationals. Will certainly have a vested interest in acquiring another team. If the Dodgers realize that Soto’s interest in moving to LA is fairly limited, the team could easily pick up any number of other options on the free agent market.
For example, re-signing Teoscar Hernandez is much cheaper than signing Soto, and Hernandez is already a known presence in Los Angeles and is a big offensive force in his own right. Heyman also said the Dodgers will consider adding another big pitcher to their injury-plagued rotation, even though Ohtani, Glasnow, Clayton Kershaw and others are expected to be healthy by Opening Day. I expect that they will.
