Juan Soto Rumors: Another Cubs Mention, Reported Asking Price, Timing of a Deal, Most Likely Suitors, More

On Friday, Ken Rosenthal dropped a bombshell report on the baseball world in two parts: (1) Juan Soto has reportedly rejected a 15-year, $440 million extension offer which is why (2) the Nationals are now *actually* open to trading him.

Given his immense talent and a likely record-setting price tag, any deal involving Soto, 23, is going to be franchise-altering (in both directions). Only a handful of teams will even be able to absorb the financial cost of keeping Soto long term, though yesterday we learned that the Cubs are – theoretically – one of those teams. Whether they have the pieces (or stomach) to send what it would take to D.C. is another question entirely.

Either way, in the wake of Soto’s sudden availability, a LOT of ink has been spilled. From rumors, to reports, to hopeful sales pitches, here’s everything that has been reported after Rosenthal dropped his nuke.

  • Let’s start with what we didn’t cover from the two reports we shared yesterday. First, the “theoretical” package Sahadev Sharma put together to illustrate what it MIGHT take to get Soto to the Cubs in the first place: “A deal built around Nico Hoerner, Justin Steele, Brennen Davis, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Caleb Kilian and Cristian Hernรƒย ndez will seem like a lot to some Cubs fans, but it also might be laughed at considering Sotoโ€™s immense talent.”

  • That’s the Cubs best young position player at the big league level (Hoerner), their most proven young starter at the big league level (Steele), and four of their five top prospects, all of whom are top-100 types, including two guys (Davis and Kilian) who are already knocking on the door of MLB. So another way to think about that deal is four young big leaguers and two top-100 prospects. And that deal might not even beat what else is out there.

  • Oh, remember that’s not all. Not only would the acquiring team have to pay Soto for two very expensive arbitration seasons in 2024 and 2025 (which could amount to nearly $50M), and not only would they surely hope to extend him to a deal that should approach $500 million in total commitments, they might also have to take on some salary from the Nationals in the form of other bad contracts, per The Athletic: “The Nationals may ask any interested suitors to absorb an additional contract, as the Marlins did with Cabrera, including pitcher Dontrelle Willis in the deal. Washington owes nearly $60 million to pitcher Patrick Corbin in 2023 and 2024. The debt to Stephen Strasburg is even bigger. Strasburg, who has pitched eight times since 2019, will earn $140 million from 2023 to 2026.”

  • Like I said, franchise altering … but in both directions.

  • In addition to McCullough/Sharma and Jon Heyman, who all included the Cubs as potential suitors, Ken Rosenthal does, as well:

  • In terms of the Cubs likelihood of landing Soto, I’ll just say this for now: they do check many, but not all boxes. They have a big enough market to support a record setting salary, they have the prospect depth to make it happen, and they could use a franchise cornerstone as much as any team out there. The issue, by contrast, is the lack of an elite prospect. Soto is probably as good as any player in baseball right now, but they would lose a lot to get him. They should still do it if they get the chance, but it would be painful and would require IMMEDIATE, significant, additional investment.

  • Rosenthal also has a very interesting theoretical in that podcast episode, wherein a low-revenue, high prospect team like the Rays trades for Soto to use him down the stretch and next season before turning around and trading him before his final year of team control in 2024. That would be a bit of a gutsy move, but boy … it sure is exciting to consider. It also opens this race to … almost any team in MLB (which is Rosenthal’s broader point).

  • Jesse Dougherty (Washington Post) has a very useful thread of information and reports, plus quotes from Soto, himself. Among the highlights:

  • Dougherty also reports (this time, via the Post) that the Nationals will not increase their offer (which did not include any deferrals) and Soto’s camp has decided not to make a counter. And that’s tough. On the one hand, the total commitment would have been the largest in MLB history, but on the other, the 15-year duration kept his AAV under $30 million. Mike Trout got $36 million/year in his extension, and he was four years older than Soto at the time. You can say “But he’s Mike Trout,” and you’d be right, but Soto might be the closest thing we have at the moment. I think it’ll take either $500M total, or an AAV that beats trout … and still double-digit years. Why the Nationals won’t take it there … well, that’s their decision.

  • It’s also worth mentioning that despite the lack of traditional “deferrals,” the deal was reportedly backloaded. And when that’s the case over 15 years, it basically IS a deferral. Jon Heyman has much more on how/why the talks broke down right here, including Scott Boras’ somewhat incredible comps. You can just tell already this is probably going to take at least $500M if we’re talking about 15 years.

  • At The Athletic, Brittany Ghiroli discusses the Nats’ decision not to increase the offer to Soto, questioning the wisdom of saddling the next ownership group (oh, yeah, the Nats ownership group is at the beginning of a sales process) with a half-billion contract. But it’s fair to question that logic when we’re talking about $50-$60 million spread out over 15 seasons. You do have to draw a line somewhere โ€” and the return will be historic โ€” but you just rarely see true one-of-a-kind players moving teams.

  • So, then, who’s actually considered a realistic landing spot? And are there any rumors? Let’s get into it.

  • In one article at The Athletic (Andy McCullough), we see the Cubs, White Sox, Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, Padres, Mariners, Cardinals, and Blue Jays. That link includes potential packages from each group (that’s where Sharma’s package was initially shared). In another article At The Athletic (Ken Rosenthal and others), we get the Padres, Mets, Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals, Braves, and Red Sox.

  • At The New York Post, Jon Heyman includes the Cubs, Rangers, Dodgers, Padres, Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Giants. That means that the only teams on all three lists are the Dodgers, Mets, and Padres (the Cubs and Yankees are on two of three). But we don’t have to stay theoretical. The actual rumors have already begun.

  • According to SNY, the Nationals reportedly view the Mets “as one of the few teams that can match up on a Soto trade, and would likely begin by requesting two or three of New York’s best prospects, plus more.” If that doesn’t sound quite as pricey as you’d expect that’s because it’s not … but also remember that the Mets have the No. 2 overall prospect, Francisco Alvarez, and another guy, Brett Baty, in the top-20. Point being, they’re more top-heavy than most. But that cuts both ways. They have some elite prospect talent, but not nearly as much depth as, say, the Cubs. With that said, they certainly have the financial resources to absorb the deal. Though it might push them above the Steve Cohen tax!

  • Color me extremely pessimistic that the Nationals would trade Soto within the division. But I guess maybe that’s just not something you can reject out of hand when you’re making a deal of this magnitude. I just suspect there will be equivalent packages elsewhere that you’d prefer to accept, all things equal.

  • At the New York Post, Jon Heyman cites sources who say that both the Yankees and the Mets *will* explore a trade for Soto. Heyman also adds a good piece of news for Cubs fans: “the early speculation around the game is that it wonโ€™t be easy for anyone to complete a megadeal like this by the Aug. 2 trade deadline since this is a generational type talent. Contending teams wonโ€™t want to surrender major league talent while they are in races….” The Cubs *should be* willing to do it now, even though they’re not competitive, but it is going to be easier for them in the offseason, when they won’t be competing with contenders who’d love to have Soto down the stretch.

  • Heyman doesn’t stop there, he also has “unconfirmed speculation” that the Nats will be seeking a team’s “top four prospects and/or young major leaguers” and perhaps a willingness to take Patrick Corbin’s bloated contract.” Frankly, though, that’s less than what Sharma mentioned, and probably a no-brainer for the Cubs โ€” What is that, Hoerner, Steele, Davis, and PCA? for Soto and Corbin’s money? Done deal. Which means it’s not enough.

  • In a separate writeup, Heyman calls the Padres an “early favorite,” because the Padres still have the young players to make a deal for Soto. The tricky part is the Padres would try hard NOT to include Fernando Tatis Jr., the idea being to pair them together, so who knows if they could actually get a deal done. Also, the Padres strike me as a team not likely to spend what it takes to absorb Soto and Corbin, let alone keep Soto long term, without something else significant changing.

  • The Padres pieces include C.J. Abrams, MacKenzie Gore, and others. The Yankees top pieces include Anthony Volpe, Oswald Peraza, Ken Waldichuk, and more. But what about the Angels? Could they do something just as crazy? As for the Dodgers, well, they make as much sense as any team out there. They have the money to keep Soto, they have the young players to get a deal done, and they have a history of acquiring (and then extending) baseball’s best young talent, including, most recently Mookie Betts. And, hey, who knows, maybe Trea Turner, as well.

  • Like … include SHOHEI OHTANI? In case you missed it, Ohtani (one of the only equivalent talents in this entire generation), is also theoretically on the trading block. Maybe these teams can swap superstars and see if shuffling the deck changes their luck โ€” both in terms of winning but also in terms of getting an extension done.

  • The issue here is that Rendon, 32, is due $152M from 2023-2026 … and hasn’t been good a couple years (the Nationals already had their chance to keep him, too). Jo Adell has not come CLOSE to living up to the hype. And this deal does not have the Nationals including Patrick Corbin’s money. Ohtani is obviously a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but I just think the Nats would be better off with a deal built around a TON of young talent and offloading a bunch of money. Something that makes them the sellers, not the buyers.

  • Here’s David Aldridge discussing the Soto dilemma, from the perspective the Nationals, whom he urges to increase their offer to 13/$481M or 12/$444 (basically, he acknowledgers that Soto needs to get $37M in AAV to be the undisputed top-paid player in MLB).

I am sure there is much, much more coming soon.

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Colton Dach Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Assign Levshunov AND Dach to Rockford, Activate Smith

Before Wednesday's game, the Blackhawks announced a few roster moves. The team formally activated veteran forward Craig Smith from IR. To make room on the roster, they needed to assign at least one player to Rockford. The Blackhawks sent both Artyom Levshunov and Colton Dach to the IceHogs. We knew Levshunov was headed back to Rockford without playing a game when he joined the Blackhawks earlier this week; the intent...

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Chicago Blackhawks
Tab Bamford
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Feb 05, 2025
Jason Dickinson Chicago Blackhawks Connor McDavid

Blackhawks vs Oilers โ€” Lineups, Broadcast Info, Game Thread

Yes, the Blackhawks are back on national television. And yes, it's against a really good team with legit championship aspirations. And yes, they're sitting a couple young guys in the press box again. But... this one's at home? And... yeah. That's all I've got. Get ready for a late night if you're attending because this is the second game of the night on TNT. Broadcast Info Puck Drop: 8:45ish PM CT...

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Chicago Blackhawks
Tab Bamford
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Feb 05, 2025

New NHL Players Poll Offers Interesting Results

On Wednesday morning The Athletic released the results of their informal, anonymous NHL player poll. They asked the usual range of questions, from coaches players would/would not want to play for, which cities would be on a no-trade list and whether or not Gary Bettman should retire from his role as commissioner of the NHL. And there were a few interesting results. Here the ones that got my attention: Ordinarily...

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Chicago Blackhawks
Tab Bamford
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Feb 05, 2025

Smith Returns, Mentor Martinez, Nazar’s Defense, Prospect Rankings, and Other Blackhawks Bullets

The Blackhawks are back in action tonight with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers in town. Based on practice the last couple days, it appears Craig Smith will return to the lineup and the Blackhawks will hope to rekindle the magic he had with Lukas Reichel and Pat Maroon on a line together. Which means Colton Dach will be the odd man out. Again, based on practice the last couple...

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Chicago Blackhawks
Tab Bamford
โ€ข
Feb 05, 2025
Frank Nazar Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks Prospect Pool Climbing Rankings

At The Athletic, Scott Wheeler has been providing his mid-season pipeline rankings of the 32 NHL franchises. What I like most about the prospect evaluation that takes place at The Athletic is the very different views and evaluations of prospects we get from Wheeler and Corey Pronman; they aren't writing in unison and often don't agree on a prospect's potential/ceiling. That is certainly the case with a number of Blackhawks...

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Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

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Obsessive Alex Bregman Watch: How Many Suitors? How Many Years? Red Sox Back-Up Plan? More

A few Alex Bregman bits to chew on as you settle down for the night ... Jon Heyman tonight writes that although Bregman is receiving "creative short-term offers," he and Scott Boras are still looking for six+ years. That tracks...

Free Agent 3B Yoan Moncada Signs with the Angels

The Chicago Cubs, ostensibly still in the market for a free-agent third baseman, will watch one option fall off the board tonight. Former White Sox third baseman - and offseason Cubs target - Yoan Moncada is reportedly signing a modest...

Resetting the Chicago Cubs’ Excessively Crowded Bullpen Picture

Given the Ryan Brasier trade potentially capping off the Chicago Cubs' bullpen moves for the offseason, and given how much movement there has been in that group this offseason, I thought it worth a reset just to see where the...

Let’s Look at the Cubs Payroll and Roster Implications of Signing Alex Bregman

Based on some scattered quotes from ownership โ€” as well as where Jed Hoyer's front office wound up last season โ€” our initial expectation for the Cubs 2025 payroll was right around the first tier of the luxury tax threshold (up...

Obsessive Alex Bregman Watch: Still Holding Out for Maximum-Length Deal?

It has felt for a few days like maybe there was a thaw coming in the Alex Bregman/Scott Boras demands for a maximum-length deal in order to finally put pen to paper in free agency, but maybe that was just...

Another Ranking Places the Cubs’ Farm System Close to the Middle of the Pack Going Into 2025

The tale is not as old as time, but it's as old as this prospects rankings season goes: the Chicago Cubs' farm system stepped way back over the last year, for reasons good and bad, and now ranks as closer...

Bader and PCA, Pham and Pirates, No Festa Forever, Brasier and Berti, Rays Stadium, and Other Cubs Bullets

Kinda thought I would wake up to an Alex Bregman decision. It had that vibe last night, but nothing doing yet. Instead, we got Pete Alonso signing, which I suppose is not nothing. But I'm about ready for "the offseason"...

Pete Alonso Re-Signing with the Mets, Did NOT Get Paaaaid

The Pete Alonso free agency closes up back where it started, and where most thought it would end: he's going back to the New York Mets. And, boy, he did NOT get paaaaaid: In total, Pete Alonso's deal will guarantee...

The Cubs Have a New Full-time Backup to Jon Sciambi on Marquee (And I’m Very Here For It!)

Alternate title: The Cubs are promoting top broadcasting prospect Alex Cohen! Maybe it's not the breaking news those of us on social media are pining for tonight, but it makes me happy nonetheless! According to Jeff Agrest at The Chicago...

Obsessive Alex Bregman Watch: A Couple Pundits Guess the Cubs Are the Favorite

Take these only for what it's worth, as we're all able to do some speculating. But Jon Heyman is inarguably plugged in, and Matt Spiegel does hear things. So there might be some meat underneath. A little. Don't go too...

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Thunder vs. Raptors Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Toronto Raptors (16-35) are heavy underdogs (-19) as they look to extend a three-game road winning streak when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder (40-9) on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Paycom Center. The game airs at 8:00 PM...

Spurs vs. Hornets Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Charlotte Hornets (12-36) are heavy underdogs (+11.5) as they attempt to break a six-game losing streak when they host the San Antonio Spurs (22-26) at 7:00 PM ET on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Spectrum Center. The contest airs...

76ers vs. Pistons Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons (25-26) are 3.5-point underdogs against Tyrese Maxey and the Philadelphia 76ers (20-30) Friday, February 7, 2025 at Little Caesars Arena. The matchup starts at 7:30 PM ET on ESPN, NBCS-PH, and FDSDET. The over/under...

Cavaliers vs. Wizards Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Washington Wizards (9-41) are heavy, 17.5-point underdogs as they look to continue a three-game winning streak when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers (41-10) on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Capital One Arena. The contest airs at 7:00 PM ET...

Suns vs. Jazz Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Phoenix Suns (25-25) are 9-point underdogs as they look to turn around a three-game losing streak when they host the Utah Jazz (12-37) on Friday, February 7, 2025 at Footprint Center. The contest airs at 10:00 PM ET on...

Bucks vs. Hawks Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Atlanta Hawks (23-28) host the Milwaukee Bucks (27-22) after losing five straight home games. The Bucks are favored by 6 points in the contest, which tips at 7:30 PM ET on Friday, February 7, 2025. The over/under is 240.5...

Heat vs. Nets Predictions, Best Bets and Odds – Friday, February 7, 2025

The Miami Heat (25-24) are favored by 6.5 points against the Brooklyn Nets (17-34) on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 7:30 PM ET. The matchup airs on YES and FDSSUN. The point total is set at 211 for the matchup.Our...

How to Watch VCU Rams vs. Dayton Flyers: Live Stream or on TV

The Dayton Flyers (16-7, 6-4 A-10) aim to build on a three-game home win streak when they host the VCU Rams (18-5, 8-2 A-10) on February 7, 2025.VCU won its most recent game versus La Salle, 96-66, on Tuesday. Joseph...

How to Watch Princeton Tigers vs. Pennsylvania Quakers: Live Stream or on TV

The Princeton Tigers (15-6, 4-2 Ivy League) will try to build on a three-game road win streak when they visit the Pennsylvania Quakers (6-13, 2-4 Ivy League) on February 7, 2025 at The Palestra.In its most recent game, Princeton beat...

Saint Joseph’s (PA) vs. Saint Louis: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Saint Joseph's (PA) Hawks (13-9, 4-5 A-10) host the Saint Louis Billikens (14-9, 7-3 A-10) in A-10 play at Michael J. Hagan '85 Arena, tipping off at 9:00 PM ET on Friday, February 7, 2025.In its most recent game,...

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