"I don't think it'll be anywhere close to $700,000,000" - MLB insider claims Juan Soto can't match Shohei Ohtani's value on and off the ballpark
Star outfielder Juan Soto is still awaiting a big offer in the offseason after his 2024 campaign with the New York Yankees. Soto had a stellar season, prompting speculation that he could receive an offer rivaling Shohei Ohtani's $700 million deal in free agency.
However, MLB insider Russell Dorsey doesn't agree. In an appearance on an episode of the MLB Hot Stove, he said (starts at 2:12):
“I understand over $500 million and I think it will end up somewhere between $560 million and $580 million at the end of the day. But this idea that it’s over $600 million. The Dodgers made money hand over fist last year where they almost paid Shohei pack for what they were gonna pay him over the next 20 years last season.”
The LA Dodgers signed Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract in December 2023. In the same month, Juan Soto signed a one-year contract worth $31 million with the New York Yankees.
Regarding the possibility of Soto receiving a contract rivaling Ohtani’s, Dorsey commented:
“I don’t think it will be anywhere close to $700,000,000. I could understand $575-$580 million though. Let’s say some teams say that we are gonna blow everyone out of the water and offer $600 million, fine. But I don’t understand that they are even close to being in the same situation in terms of the marketing and the global reach.”
MLB insider Russell Dorsey discussed Shohei Ohtani’s popularity among fans while talking about Juan Soto’s contract
Shohei Ohtani's already high popularity skyrocketed following a historic 2024 season with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Discussing his popularity, Russell Dorsey said:
“Finishing up in the World Series and winning the World Series, I remember driving to LA throughout the year last year and there were lines going down to the street. You know how far away Dodger Stadium is from the street. For Shohei bobblehead etc, so yeah, I think it is a little ridiculous some of the numbers we are hearing.”
Juan Soto finished the 2024 season with a .288 batting average, 41 homers, 109 RBIs, and a .989 OPS. Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani had a .310 batting average, 54 homers, 130 RBIs, and a 1.036 OPS.