The New York Mets, Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers are all in the mix for Juan Soto. Each team is rumored to have put up offers north of $600 million, but Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, isn’t rushing the process. Boras made it clear that while Soto is methodically narrowing down his options, the expectation, however, is that he could make his choice by the end of the Winter Meetings, which begins this Sunday in Dallas; perhaps even before the event kicks off. 

However, Boras shared that an “imminent” choice isn’t expected. While the Dodgers remain favorites to land Soto, critics have raised concerns about the Dodgers’ approach, noting that the team is simply ‘buying championships’. However, Boras, ever the defender of his clients and their market value, brushed off these critiques—instead, he invoked the spirit of George Steinbrenner, the late owner of the Yankees, who was unapologetic about spending whatever it took to build a winning team.

Scott Boras gives a sharp reply using the Yankees’ late owner’s example 

Boras wasn’t having any of it when asked about the Dodgers’ approach. According to the Athletic, Scott Boras gave a sharp response, mentioning late Yankees owner George Steinbrenner as he claimed, “I would say that, as George Steinbrenner said, whatever you do to compete, the fact that I can compete in a different way than others, so be it,” Boras said. “I don’t think that has anything to do with the number of trophies that hang over your stadium, I don’t think fans remember that.” 

It’s a response to those who may view high-spending clubs as chasing titles through financial power rather than through strategic baseball decisions. Scott Boras affirmed that for teams like the Dodgers (and the Yankees before them), spending big isn’t about buying a championship; it’s about putting themselves in the best possible position to win. The real measure of success, he suggested, is the number of trophies raised and the memories that fans carry. The Dodgers, with their deep pockets and a roster already stacked with talent, are clearly in it to win it; so, it’s all part of the game. 

Another high-profile signing for the Dodgers

Blake Snell officially donned a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey for the first time on Tuesday, marking yet another high-profile signing for the franchise that’s coming off a recent championship run. The left-handed ace agreed to a five-year, $182 million contract, which includes a massive $52 million upfront payment and an additional $66 million deferred through 2046. This is the fourth nine-figure deal the Dodgers have pulled off in just the last 12 months. 

The Dodgers are clearly not holding back in their pursuit of another title. Snell’s addition to an already stacked rotation is another statement of intent from the team. But the excitement surrounding Snell’s arrival also comes with a fair share of risk. While each of these pitchers brings ace-level talent, they also come with significant injury concerns. Snell, in particular, has faced questions throughout his career about his durability, often criticized for not being able to go deep into games.  

Still, the Dodgers are betting that Snell, along with the rest of their new pitching staff, can stay healthy and take the team to new heights. The Dodgers are confident that the 32-year-old still has plenty of upside; the team’s president of baseball operations, Andrew Friedman, has known Snell since his teenage years. In fact, Friedman was part of the Tampa Bay Rays group that drafted him 52nd overall back in 2011. So, this belief in Snell’s potential is exactly why the Dodgers were willing to invest heavily in him.