All eyes on Juan Soto at Winter Meetings

Juan Soto will be the focus of MLB’s Winter Meetings.

The lobby at the Dallas Anatole Hotel will be filled with rumors and buzz about the top free agent on the market when the meetings began Sunday and run through Wednesday. Everyone is curious to see which team signs the 26-year-old right fielder, who finished third in the American League MVP voting this year with the New York Yankees.

Many inside the game believe Soto is likely to decide this week, possibly at a press conference in Dallas. It seems certain that Soto will sign the largest contract in professional sports history as the bidding has reportedly surpassed $700 million.

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani signed a 10-year, $700-million deal last December.

The Yankees, New York Mets, Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays are known to make offers.

The Mets are considered the favorites with Steve Cohen being the richest owner in baseball and having a desire to one-up the crosstown Yankees. Soto is said to have really enjoyed his year with the Yankees after being acquired from the San Diego in a trade last December and is receptive to staying in The Bronx.

The Red Sox are emerging as the dark horse as they are desperate to return to the postseason for the first time since 2021. The Red Sox have played on Soto’s heartstrings by using his idol, Hall of Famer David Ortiz, as a recruiter.

The Dodgers can never be counted out as they continue to collect star players. The Blue Jays might have to significantly outbid the others to convince Soto to play in Canada.

The two biggest names to come off the free-agent board so far are left-hander Ian Snell, who signed a five-year, $182-million contract with the Dodgers and shortstop Willy Adames, who has agreed to terms on a seven-year, $182-million deal with the San Francisco Giants.

Difference-making pitchers are still without teams, though. They include left-handers Max Fried and Sean Manaea and right-handers Corbin Burnes, Jack Flaherty and Nathan Eovaldi.

Teams that lose out on Soto will have other impact hitters they can pursue on the open market --- first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker, third baseman Alex Bregman and outfielders Teoscar Hernandez and Anthony Santander.

Left-hander Tanner Scott is an intriguing free agent reliever in a group that includes Carlos Estevez, Jeff Hoffman, David Robertson, Blake Treinen and Kirby Yates.

The Chicago White Sox could be active in the trade market following a 41-121 season in which they had the most losses since 1900. Left-hander Garrett Crochet has drawn interest from many teams after leading the American League in strikeouts this past season and center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has intriguing talent, though he is prone to injury.

The Chicago Cubs are said to be willing to trade first baseman/center fielder Cody Bellinger, whose power/speed combination and position flexibility would fit many lineups.

MLB will hold its draft lottery on Tuesday and the Rule 5 Draft of unprotected players on Wednesday.

On Sunday, the Hall of Fame’s Classic Era Committee will announce the results of its vote. The candidates include Dick Allen, Ken Boyer, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Dave Parker and Luis Tiant and Negro League legends John Donaldson and Vic Harris.