Published on: November 30, 2024, 05:17h.
Last updated on: November 30, 2024, 05:17h.
The U.S. Thanksgiving celebration has passed, and Christmas is approaching. The Buffalo Bills are preparing for their upcoming game against the San Francisco 49ers amidst heavy snowfall at Highmark Stadium. Additionally, hockey and basketball seasons are in full swing.
Top Contenders vying for Juan Soto
While Major League Baseball may not be the center of attention for everyone, it holds significance for those involved. The MLB free agency period is in focus now, leading to teams making significant roster changes for the upcoming 2025 season.
Juan Soto, a prominent slugger, is attracting attention from five teams reported to be interested in signing him. Due to his exceptional talent and potential impact on any team, the situation has garnered considerable interest in betting circles.
The teams in the running for Juan Soto are said to be the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets.
Preference towards the Mets
“As an Ontario-based operator, we anticipated high interest in Soto considering the excitement surrounding the Blue Jays’ pursuit of him,” said Mike Cormack, Head of Content at NorthStar Bets.
“Since launching our market in early November, players across the province have been closely following our odds, particularly our articles on Soto’s next team odds in our Sports Insights content section,” Cormack added.
Current wagering trends indicate that most NorthStar Bets players are leaning towards Soto joining the New York Mets for the 2025 season, rather than staying with the Yankees. The Mets started at +350 odds and are now the second favorite at +200, with the Yankees at -148. The Blue Jays follow at +700 odds.”
Consideration for the Dodgers
While Juan Soto’s free agency is not as hyped as Shohei Ohtani’s last winter, it is generating significant interest. With Soto being just 26 and one of the league’s top hitters, he is seeking a lucrative contract exceeding $600 million for over 10 years. In the previous season with the Yankees, he hit 41 home runs with a .989 OPS, finishing third in the MVP race.
Reports suggest that the Los Angeles Dodgers are cooling off their pursuit of Soto, having already signed pitcher Blake Snell and focusing on re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. The Dodgers recently secured a five-year, $74 million extension with utility player Tommy Edman.
Insider information from MLB’s Bob Nightengale indicates that the bidding war for Soto has entered its second round. The situation has Blue Jays fans on edge, as they were previously involved in the Ohtani pursuit only to see him land a massive contract with the Dodgers.
Given Soto’s impressive performance at a young age and his consistency, acquiring such a transformative talent is a rare opportunity. He has maintained an on-base percentage above .400 since entering the league in 2018 with the Washington Nationals, never recording fewer than 650 plate appearances in a full season.
With ongoing rumors and speculations, both bettors and baseball enthusiasts may have to wait a few more days before a decision, potentially before the upcoming Winter Meetings (Dec. 9-12).