Posted on: November 30, 2024, 05:17h.
Last updated on: November 30, 2024, 07:27h.
U.S. Thanksgiving is done, Christmas is on the horizon, the Buffalo Bills are shovelling more than two feet of lake-effect snow off the seats at Highmark Stadium in anticipation of tomorrow night’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, and hockey and basketball seasons are well underway.
Five Teams in the Running
Major League Baseball is off the front pages. For others, though, it’s front and centre. MLB free agency season is the focus, when teams take out their credit cards and re-shape their rosters for the 2025 season.
And there’s no bigger name out there than slugger Juan Soto, currently entertaining offers from what’s reportedly five teams. Because of the rarity that is Soto’s talent, and the immense impact he will have on any team that signs him, the situation is generating robust betting interest.
Those teams interested are reportedly the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Mets.
Bettors Like the Mets
“As an Ontario-based operator, we knew interest in Soto would be high given the excitement in the market around the Blue Jays pursuit of him,” said Mike Cormack, Head of Content, NorthStar Bets.
“Since our market went live in early November, players across the province have been following our odds — and frequent updates to our Soto next team odds articles in our Sports Insights content vertical — in record numbers.
Wagering activity to date shows most NorthStar Bets players are banking on Soto leaving the Yankees to play for a new team in 2025 — the cross-town rival New York Mets. The Mets opened at +350 and are now the second favorite at +200, behind the Yankees at -148. The Blue Jays are +700.”
Dodgers Backing Off?
While Soto’s free agency doesn’t match up with the Shohei Ohtani tour last winter, it’s close. Soto is only 26, one of the best hitters in the league, and is looking to nail down a 10-year plus contract, likely north of $600 million. Last year with the Yankees he hit 41 homeruns, with a .989 OPS, finishing third in MVP balloting.
Then there are stories today that the Los Angeles Dodgers are running cold on the pursuit, having already signed free agent starting pitcher Blake Snell, while setting their sights on re-signing outfielder Teoscar Hernandez. The Dodgers yesterday announced a five-year $74 million contract extension with super-utility man Tommy Edman.
The Dodgers story regarding Soto is according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale. The bidding war has entered Round 2. Blue Jays’ fans are skittish because during last season’s Ohtani chase, in which they were front and centre with a big offer to lure him to Canada, the organization was clearly used as leverage for Ohtani to land that behemothic 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers.
Soto’s production for such a young age, and his durability, doesn’t come along very often. It’s a rare chance to land such a transformational talent. He’s never had an on-base percentage below .400 since he entered the league with the Washington Nationals in 2018. He’s never taken fewer than 650 plate appearances in a full season.
There’s the usual X pandemonium, with rumours, chatter and false reports, so bettors and baseball fans will no doubt have to be patient and wait a few more weeks – possibly with a decision before baseball’s Winter Meetings (Dec. 9-12).
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