Royals Show Interest in Free Agent Juan Soto, But Face Stiff Competition

The Kansas City Royals have reportedly expressed interest in signing free-agent outfielder Juan Soto this offseason, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. However, it appears that talks with Soto have not progressed far, as his asking price is likely out of the Royals' financial comfort zone.

At the beginning of the offseason, Heyman noted that two small-market teams were among the 11 clubs to reach out to Soto. The Tampa Bay Rays were quickly identified as one of those teams, and it now seems the Royals were the other. Despite initial interest, there is no indication that either Tampa Bay or Kansas City has shown serious intent to pursue Soto further. The teams that have shown significant interest include the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers – all of which are big-market franchises. The Philadelphia Phillies have not yet scheduled a meeting with Soto, but they are expected to engage with the star outfielder and his agent, Scott Boras, soon.

The Royals were surprisingly active in free agency last winter, committing over $110 million to sign players like Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. Both signings proved to be successful, with Lugo finishing second in AL Cy Young voting and Wacha providing solid mid-rotation performances. Wacha opted out of the second year of his initial contract with Kansas City, only to return on a three-year, $51 million deal.

Kansas City's most significant investment came just before Spring Training when they extended franchise shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. on an 11-year deal worth nearly $289 million. Witt's outstanding performance, which earned him an MVP runner-up finish, helped the Royals end a nine-year playoff drought.

Witt's contract is the largest in Royals' history, and Soto's asking price is likely more than double that amount. While the Royals may not be able to land the market's top free agent, they could still make moves within the outfield class. Players like Anthony Santander, Teoscar Hernández, Tyler O'Neill, and Jurickson Profar are potential candidates for three- or four-year contracts. It's unlikely that any of these players would command nine-figure deals, though Santander might have an outside chance.

​Kansas City's current corner outfielders, MJ Melendez and Hunter Renfroe, have not provided the level of performance expected from a contending team. Upgrading this area will be a clear priority for the Royals' front office as they aim to build a competitive roster for the upcoming season.