Outfield Market Heats Up After Juan Soto's Decision

The baseball world held its breath as Juan Soto made his decision, signing a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets. This monumental contract has shifted the focus to other top outfielders on the market, particularly Anthony Santander and Teoscar Hernández.


With Soto off the board, the Yankees, Red Sox, and Blue Jays have all turned their attention to Santander, according to MLB Network insider Jon Paul Morosi. These teams are keen to bolster their lineups after missing out on Soto, and Santander's power and consistency make him a highly sought-after asset.


In addition to Santander, the Red Sox and Yankees are also pursuing Hernández. MLB.com's Mark Feinsand reports that the Red Sox had planned to target Hernández if they failed to sign Soto, and MassLive.com's Chris Cotillo notes that the Yankees have shown "serious interest" in the right-handed slugger. The Blue Jays, however, prefer the switch-hitting Santander, while Boston seems to favor Hernández.


Despite already signing Michael Conforto, the Dodgers remain interested in retaining Hernández. Last month, Hernández expressed his desire to return to the defending World Series champions, stating he would "do everything in my power" to re-sign with the team. However, as Dodgers reporter David Vassegh mentioned, negotiations between Hernández and the team have been challenging, with ESPN's Alden Gonzalez adding that they have struggled to "bridge the gap" over the past few weeks.