MLB Insider Puts Insane Number on Juan Soto's Free Agency

The Juan Soto legend continues to grow. The superstar free agent-to-be hit the game-deciding 3-run homer in the 10th inning to send the New York Yankees into their first World Series since 2009.

He once turned down a $400+ million offer from his former team, the Washington Nationals because he was thought to be seeking a $500 million contract in free agency. Then earlier this season as he transformed the Yankees into a serious championship contender, it started to sound like $600 million was in the offing.

But MLB insider and former GM Steve Phillips told the crew on TSN 1050's First Up that he thinks the number will go even higher.

I have to tell ya, I think there's a chance it's gonna start with a seven (as in $700 million). Scott Boras (Soto's outspoken and controversial agent), he wants to set records. Now, the only way he'll do it is with a lot of deferred money. But (Boras) has done that in deals. So I think he wants to have this stand as, 'I hold the record for the guy who got the most money.'

Of course, the current record was just set last offseason, when two-way star Shohei Ohtani signed with the LA Dodgers for $700 million. But that was with the expectation that in addition to his boffo contributions at DH, he'll also return to the mound next season and going forward to add some Cy Young-caliber pitching to his worth as well.

But Phillips explains that age is a factor as to why he thinks Soto could approach, pull even, or surpass Ohtani's deal.

"They've got a shot at it because Soto (age 26 as of this week) is multiple years younger than Ohtani (age 30)," added Phillips. "So it's gonna be a 12-, 13-, 14-year contract most likely, so because of the added years, he's got a shot to get somewhere close to something with $700 million."

Soto batted .288 with a .989 OPS this season in his first year with the Yankees, with a career-high 41 HR, 109 RBIs and 128 runs.