MLB Rumor: Jays See a Free Agent Contract between the Red Sox and Mets for Jorge Soler
Per Héctor Gómez of Z101 Digital, the Blue Jays are prepared to offer Jorge Soler a multiyear deal with the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox also expressing interest in the All-Star slugger.
Boston was thought to be the front-runner for Soler, who is looking for a contract of at least three years, according to Gómez’s report on Thursday.
The Red Sox’s situation appeared to have shifted in only 48 hours, as Gómez’s report on Saturday indicated they would probably “be outbid” for Soler.
The Mets have been searching for a designated hitter to replace them in the lineup. This offseason, Soler, Teoscar Hernández, and J.D. Martinez have all been connected to them.
After agreeing to a one-year, $23.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, Hernández is no longer available.
Toronto has had a pretty quiet offseason aside from their interest in Ohtani. Isiah Kiner-Falefa is the lone free agent signed by the squad thus far.
The Baltimore Orioles, who possess perhaps the best young core in MLB and more elite prospects on the way, the Tampa Bay Rays, who acquired Tyler Glasnow, still have a talented roster, and the New York Yankees, who will have Juan Soto bat in front of Aaron Judge, put the Blue Jays in a difficult situation.
Toronto’s roster still has a solid core of players, although there were indications of decline in the previous year. Throughout his career, George Springer’s OPS+ was the lowest. Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s OPS+ has decreased by 50 points since 2021, when he came in second place for AL MVP.
If Matt Chapman becomes a free agent, he might leave a significant void at third base. Last season, he was a Gold Glove winner at the hot corner, hitting.240/.330/.424.
Although Soler lacks defensive value, he possesses the greatest amount of power in the sport. The 31-year-old, who hit.250/.341/.512 with 36 home runs in 137 games for the Miami Marlins last season, was named to his first All-Star squad.