Since the Washington Nationals signed Juan Soto as an international free agent in 2015, the Dominican and his agent, Scott Boras, have been waiting for this offseason. Why? Because after Soto helped the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009, he became a free agent again.

In fact, along the way, Juan Soto even turned down a 15-year $440 million contract with the Nationals (along with whom he won the 2019 World Series – a first for the franchise). After trading to the San Diego Padres, he got the team within three wins of the 2022 World Series, further solidifying the fact that wherever he goes, Soto helps franchises get better. And to think he’s only 26. No wonder the Dominican is so in demand.

Speaking at the general manager’s meeting last week, Scott Boras said, “Due to the volume of interest and Juan’s desire to hear [from teams], I can’t put a timeframe on [his signing], but it’s going to be a very thorough process. “He wants to meet people personally, talk with them, and hear from them. He wants ownership that’s going to support that they are going win annually.” But it looks like one franchise isn’t ready for Juan Soto yet.

While most teams are pursuing him in free agency, the Chicago Cubs are sticking to different plans this offseason. Soto is a big name, and to secure a player like that, you need big cash. $600 million is the estimated number. And the 26-year-old has the stats to back up his worth. This season with the Yankees, he hit 41 homers and 109 RBIs and batted .288.

Per a report by The Athletic, “The Cubs do not intend to deviate from [their long-term plan to deliver sustained success instead of a one-year fluke], ruling out a pursuit of Juan Soto or Corbin Burnes even before all the baseball executives and agents checked out of the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. Rather than pursuing talent at the top of the free agent market, the Cubs appear positioned to make noise in the trade market.”

With eight of the top 100 prospects in baseball and around $50 million in payroll flexibility, the team is well-positioned to make significant deals. While high-profile free agents like Soto and Burnes might be out of reach, the Cubs have an eye for more budget-friendly targets. Alongside leveraging the incredible players they already have, they will hit the trade market.

Veteran catcher Travis d’Arnaud, with his 14 rounds of playoff experience, is reportedly on their radar. Additionally, the Cubs are keeping an eye on Roki Sasaki, the dynamic young pitcher from Japan, who could be available to MLB teams this winter.

The Cubs are targeting smart acquisitions that can plug immediate needs while continuing to build for the future. Pitching will remain their top priority this offseason. As president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer noted, the key to postseason success is a deep, reliable pitching staff. “You watch the postseason, and you need a lot of arms to get through the entire marathon now.”

Despite entering last season with what seemed like their best pitching depth in years, the Cubs found themselves scrambling as injuries took over. “A lot of guys went down, and we were scrambling,” Hoyer acknowledged. So, keeping that in mind, the team will continue to prioritize adding as many quality arms as possible.

At the end of the day, one of the main goals the franchise is targeting next season is to make the playoffs, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2020. As for Juan Soto, he’s looking for another World Series title. That said, what are his prospects? According to Yahoo! Sports, a reunion with the Nationals is a possibility. “This would be a homecoming for the ages,” the report read. “Soto still has an affinity for the team that first signed him and maintains a close relationship with Nats skipper Davey Martinez.”

“Washington’s payroll right now is below $100 million, and they have an interesting core of young players who could benefit from hitting around Soto.” But what makes the Nationals non-favorites to sign Soto is the fact that winning a title immediately may not be on the cards. There’s also the possibility that the outfield might stay in New York – either with the Yankees or the Mets.

Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said, “We are more than willing to meet as many times as he would like to meet. We certainly have an interest in retaining him, and we’ll put our best foot forward there.” Their hometown rivals, the Mets, though, are looking to step outside the Yankees’ shadow. And they believe Juan Soto is the key to achieving that.

Former Marlins president David Samson recently said, “Steve [Cohen] wants to change that, and he wants Juan [Soto] to be the son of that change; the center of that change.” That said, if the 26-year-old is no longer on the Chicago Cubs’ radar, what’s next for them?

The Cubs’ Japanese connection is more important than their pursuit of Juan Soto

In recent seasons, Jed Hoyer has worked very hard to build a relationship between the Chicago Cubs and the growing talent coming from Japan to Major League Baseball. This infrastructure was first established after the 2017 season when the Cubs signed star starting pitcher Yu Darvish. Since then, the Cubs have continued to strengthen their ties to Japan with key additions like Seiya Suzuki and Shota Imanaga.

Darvish, even though he was with the San Diego Padres, played a pivotal role in the Cubs successfully recruiting Suzuki. His positive influence and experience with the Cubs helped Suzuki’s decision to join Chicago. In turn, Suzuki’s success and his experiences with the Cubs organization had a lasting impact on Imanaga, who chose to sign with Chicago last offseason. That further solidified the Cubs’ growing presence in Japan.

The franchise is hoping their previous relationships with Japanese players will eventually lead to the next big superstar pitcher for the organization. This offseason, that dream could take a step closer to reality with Roki Sasaki, the 23-year-old Japanese starter. While they are unwilling to pursue Juan Soto, the Cubs are instead focusing on the growing chatter surrounding Sasaki’s jump to MLB this winter.

Because of his age, Sasaki would be eligible for a minor-league deal with a signing bonus of no more than $8 million. That’s a great deal for the Cubs – it would continue their strategy of tapping into Japanese talent for long-term success.