The Toronto Blue Jays missed out on Juan Soto, just a year after they were unable to sign Shohei Ohtani.
“Both of those guys, they’re obviously great, elite players,” Toronto manager John Schneider said Monday at the winter meetings. “You try to move forward, and you try to make your team better, but I think the fact that we’re in it as much as we have been the last two years is exciting.”
Soto agreed to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets on Sunday, which is still pending a successful physical. The Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, and Los Angeles Dodgers were also competing for Soto.
“Obviously there were some other teams that are even more motivated, but what a great player,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.
Soto’s deal surpasses the $700 million, 10-year contract Ohtani signed with the Dodgers last December.
“I certainly didn’t see that happening, period,” Roberts said. “Very surprised. I think like all of us.” Red Sox manager Alex Cora enjoyed getting to know Soto. Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, also represented Cora during his playing days.
“The kid, he gets it. He gets it. Let me put it that way,” Cora said. “Obviously I always have fun with the group that represents him. You guys know how I feel about them, but it was a good experience, and I learned a lot.”
Schneider said that Toronto’s efforts to sign Soto were led by chairman Edward Rogers, CEO Mark Shapiro, and general manager Ross Atkins.
“We made our best offer,” Schneider said. “We were obviously interested, like a lot of teams. So I wish him the best.”
Toronto first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a four-time All-Star, is eligible for free agency after next year’s World Series and could benefit from the salary increase caused by the deals signed by Ohtani and Soto.
“I want him to be here for a long time,” Schneider said. “It happens every year when someone signs a deal, and kind of ups the ante a little bit. I’m just looking forward to Vlad having another good year really. … I think things will work out for him obviously, but we want it to be here.”
