Juan Soto, Free Agent

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

I'm sorry but its going to be hard to explain to the fans you couldn't afford Soto if he signs with the Phillies. You couldn't afford Bryce, Trea, Soto or to keep Schwarber but somehow the Phillies can pay all of them? Yeah good luck.

Previous thread, "Juan Soto, Yankee," is at https://www.wnff.net/index.php?topic=41199.0

[imref]

Soto after the game last night

About free agency:

"I feel like every team has the same opportunities when I go into free agency. I don't want to say anyone has an advantage because at the end of the day we're gonna look at what they have & how much they want me"

In response to being asked about the Mets bidding on him:

"I don't know what's the teams that are going to come after me. Definitely, I'll be open to this and every single team. I don't have any doors closed. I"m gonna be available for all 30 teams"

On leaving the Yankees:

"Leaving any place that is a winning team is always hard. This place was really special. It's been a blast for me. I've been really happy. This was a really special group"

[Senatorswin]

I'm sorry but its going to be hard to explain to the fans you couldn't afford Soto if he signs with the Phillies. You couldn't afford Bryce, Trea, Soto or to keep Schwarber but somehow the Phillies can pay all of them? Yeah good luck.

The Phillies get about $125 million a year in local TV revenue. The Nationals get about $61 million. The difference in that alone pays for Harper and Turner with about $9 million left over. MLB is definitely not a level playing field.

[Slateman]

The Phillies get about $125 million a year in local TV revenue. The Nationals get about $61 million. The difference in that alone pays for Harper and Turner with about $9 million left over. MLB is definitely not a level playing field.

Nats revenue is over 350 million. They have no real payroll to speak of. They can absolutely afford to match whatever offer the Phillies have.

[Natsinpwc]

The Phillies get about $125 million a year in local TV revenue. The Nationals get about $61 million. The difference in that alone pays for Harper and Turner with about $9 million left over. MLB is definitely not a level playing field.

Yea but youre missing that they are paying a bunch of other guys big money also. Wheeler. Nola. Schwarber. Castellanos. Those four probably exceed the Nats payroll. They have more revenue but probably three times the payroll. The owner wants to win. May not work but at least he’s trying.

I don’t think Soto makes sense right now but they do need to start spending some money if they want to compete.

[HalfSmokes]

Yea but youre missing that they are paying a bunch of other guys big money also. Wheeler. Nola. Schwarber. Castellanos. Those four probably exceed the Nats payroll. They have more revenue but probably three times the payroll. The owner wants to win. May not work but at least he’s trying.

I don’t think Soto makes sense right now but they do need to start spending some money if they want to compete.

Do you think Soto wants to go to a team where he's the only guy ownership will pay? I think the nats will make an offer to appease fans, but there is no shot they will actually get him 

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Nats revenue is over 350 million. They have no real payroll to speak of. They can absolutely afford to match whatever offer the Phillies have.

They can but they absolutely won’t. They’ll do their normal bad-faith offers so they can tell the fans they tried but we’ll end up with the usual scrubs we try to flip at the deadline. 

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

Do you think Soto wants to go to a team where he's the only guy ownership will pay? I think the nats will make an offer to appease fans, but there is no shot they will actually get him 

If they offered him the most he’d absolutely come back. His brothers here, he loved living here and the team has developing talent. If they want him they can do it. They won’t though.

[Slateman]

They can but they absolutely won’t. They’ll do their normal bad-faith offers so they can tell the fans they tried but we’ll end up with the usual scrubs we try to flip at the deadline. 

What normal bad faith offers? Last time they offered to make him the highest paid player in baseball.

[welch]

And Soto is not a free agent until Monday.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

And Soto is not a free agent until Monday.

By this schedule, he is a Free agent but can only negotiate with the Yankees until Monday.

Free Agency Schedule:

Today (October 31)
- All players whose contracts expired at the end of the season are officially free agents but can only negotiate with their current clubs

November 4, 4:00 PM ET
- Players who have not resigned with their current clubs are free to sign with any team.
- Any player or team option must be exercised by this time as well
- All qualifying offers must be made ($21.05 million)

November 19, 4:00 PM ET
- Deadline to accept QOs

November 22:
- Deadline to non-tender arbitration-eligible players

December 11:
- Rule 5 draft

[SkinsNatFan21RIP]

What normal bad faith offers? Last time they offered to make him the highest paid player in baseball.

You mean the 15 year offer that had him like 30th in the league in AAV? He wasn’t signing that and you know it.

[Senatorswin]

Nats revenue is over 350 million. They have no real payroll to speak of. They can absolutely afford to match whatever offer the Phillies have.

Considering the Nats current payroll they could afford to add Soto. But there's a reason Harper, Turner, Schwarber are signed by the Phillies and not the Nats. The Phillies are getting $64 million more in TV revenue that pays their salaries, money the Nats don't get for their TV deal. That's a big reason why the Dodgers and Yankees of the world can sign these big contracts.

[Natsinpwc]

Considering the Nats current payroll they could afford to add Soto. But there's a reason Harper, Turner, Schwarber are signed by the Phillies and not the Nats. The Phillies are getting $64 million more in TV revenue that pays their salaries, money the Nats don't get for their TV deal. That's a big reason why the Dodgers and Yankees of the world can sign these big contracts.

The Phillies payroll was $135 million higher than the Nats this year. $65 million only covers half of that. Even with higher gate revenue it’s likely they are losing money or making very little. Whereas the Nats owners are pocketing profits. Of course some of going to deferred salaries coming due but if they invested what they saved before, they should have funds to cover those. Need ownership commited to spending to win in MLB. Not clear we have that anymore.

[imref]

Hector Gomez says Toronto will offer soto a blank check.

[nfotiu]

Hector Gomez says Toronto will offer soto a blank check.

and he'll write in ... one million dollars!

[imref]

[rileyn]

If he goes to Phillies........  Good Lord.

[Senatorswin]

Yea but youre missing that they are paying a bunch of other guys big money also. Wheeler. Nola. Schwarber. Castellanos. Those four probably exceed the Nats payroll. They have more revenue but probably three times the payroll. The owner wants to win. May not work but at least he’s trying.

I don’t think Soto makes sense right now but they do need to start spending some money if they want to compete.

I would say the Phillies owners are committed to do what they think they need to do to win the World Series. They get just a little over $100 million in revenue more than the Nats. That buys some serious talent. I think by their signings they were going to get over the top and get the ring. They'll be in the hunt next year too.

[Natsinpwc]

I would say the Phillies owners are committed to do what they think they need to do to win the World Series. They get just a little over $100 million in revenue more than the Nats. That buys some serious talent. I think by their signings they were going to get over the top and get the ring. They'll be in the hunt next year too.

Do you have a source for the $100 million?  If the Nats would put a more competitive team out there they would have more gate revenue for sure.  Not asking the Nats to spend like that now but they need to but a hitter and SP this offseason.  It's time. 

[Slateman]

Do you have a source for the $100 million?  If the Nats would put a more competitive team out there they would have more gate revenue for sure.  Not asking the Nats to spend like that now but they need to but a hitter and SP this offseason.  It's time. 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/196677/revenue-of-the-philadelphia-phillies-since-2006/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/196692/revenue-of-the-washington-nationals-since-2006/#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20the%20revenue%20of,to%20355%20million%20U.S.%20dollars.

Also, for craps and giggles: https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2024/sort/cap_total2

Phillies payroll is 140+ million more than the Nationals. And it's projected to be higher next year.

There is no financial reason that the Phillies should be outbidding the Nationals for Juan Soto.

[HalfSmokes]

How much of the nats revenue goes towards debt financing?

[Natsinpwc]

https://www.statista.com/statistics/196677/revenue-of-the-philadelphia-phillies-since-2006/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/196692/revenue-of-the-washington-nationals-since-2006/#:~:text=In%202024%2C%20the%20revenue%20of,to%20355%20million%20U.S.%20dollars.

Also, for craps and giggles: https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/payroll/_/year/2024/sort/cap_total2

Phillies payroll is 140+ million more than the Nationals. And it's projected to be higher next year.

There is no financial reason that the Phillies should be outbidding the Nationals for Juan Soto.

So the Lerners are making big money on the Nats.

I don’t think Soto wants to play for a non contender. He will have too many bids in the general same area from top teams.

Let’s use the money and get two or three guys and see how the young players develop.

[Natsinpwc]

How much of the nats revenue goes towards debt financing?

How much did they make in the market from the money saved on deferred salaries back in the 2010s?  Let's not forget that real estate developers get all kinds of tax breaks. 

[HalfSmokes]

How much did they make in the market from the money saved on deferred salaries back in the 2010s?  Let's not forget that real estate developers get all kinds of tax breaks. 

Let's not forget that they used the team as collateral to finance the purchase. What are the odds that they have a health balance sheet and what are they odds that they are still absurdly leveraged? Lets not for get that they're real estate developers