Insider shares interesting scenario for Juan Soto free-agency sweepstakes

In the days following this year's World Series that featured All-Star outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Yankees falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers, multiple industry insiders suggested that Soto and agent Scott Boras would eventually receive a contract "in the $700M area" from a big-spending club such as the Yankees, Dodgers or New York Mets in free agency. 

For a piece published Tuesday, ESPN MLB insider Kiley McDaniel shared a scenario that could result in Soto putting pen to paper on a 13-year, $611M deal with a $47M average annual value. 

"I would not be surprised if Soto gets a heavily deferred contract totaling more than $700M in nominal value, but there's also a chance a bidding war doesn't materialize and it ends up under $600M," McDaniel explained. "It comes down to how aggressive the Yankees, Mets and other potential suitors want to be for the clear headliner of the winter or if they see a combination of...alternatives more attractive."

MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post raised eyebrows when he said last week that "one backup plan" for Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner regarding the Soto sweepstakes involves team senior vice president/general manager Brian Cashman pursuing All-Star first baseman Pete Alonso and multiple starting pitchers such as Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell. 

McDaniel mentioned that Mets owner Steve Cohen could instruct team president of baseball operations David Stearns to re-sign Alonso, a favorite among fans of the Amazins, and then spend the rest of the Soto money on second- and third-tier free agents. 

Soto allegedly prefers "to be on the East Coast" but also isn't looking to hand any team a discount. Meanwhile, the Dodgers just won the World Series without him and may not want to be used by Soto's camp so the 26-year-old can get the deal he wants from either the Yankees or Mets. 

As for the Mets, they made a trip to this year's National League Championship Series after Stearns completed what many said at the time was an underwhelming offseason. As much as Cohen may want to flex his financial power this fall, he seems willing to let Stearns build what ideally will become a sustainable winner on the executive's terms.

It's worth noting that Soto is expected to take his time and wait for teams throughout MLB to blow him away with what ultimately could become record-setting offers. If, however, the Dodgers and Mets decide to pass on a long bidding war for a player who admittedly enjoyed being with the Yankees this year, Steinbrenner may be able to hold onto Soto for cheaper than some predicted on Halloween.