When MLB free agency begins at 5:00 p.m. the day after the World Series, no player will be more coveted than left fielder Juan Soto.

The 26-year-old is in the midst of the best statistical season of his career and is something of a unicorn: a young player, at the peak of his talent, hitting free agency for the first time in his career.

Almost every franchise with available funds will be looking for a generational player, but the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported that there was a pecking order for favored teams to land him.

The incumbent team, the ALCS-bound New York Yankees, are the current and “clear” favorites, followed closely by the New York Mets across town.

Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and Philadelphia round out the rest of the list.

Soto finished the regular season with career highs in home runs (41), hits (166), runs (128) and WAR (7.9). So it’s no surprise that any team competing with a reasonable amount of money would be considered potential contenders for the four-time All-Star.

Soto, however, admits it’s been a special season with the Yankees, telling Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com, “When you put on that jersey and those pinstripes, it’s just different.” There’s so much history and everything, so many fans all over the world that we have… it’s really nice to play for a team that has so many great moments in history.

Sentiment aside, ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel told insider Buster Olney on the Baseball tonight podcast that serious bidders could push his price to between $550 million and $560 million and that a Yankees victory would mean he returns to the Bronx.

One loss and he finds himself in Queens.

Olney predicted he would end up with the Mets anyway.

The Mets have money after Justin Verlander’s contract went unvested and with Starling Marte’s knee injury slowing him this season, there is room in the outfield for Soto, although that means moving Brandon Nimmo.

Steve Cohen is still looking for the next big free agent addition and as long as the organization believes he won’t disrupt team chemistry, and general manager David Stearns has no issues with him since their stay in San Diego, there are all the reasons. believe the Mets will aggressively pursue the power hitter.

Still, there’s something to be said for Soto’s success in New York, hitting ahead of AL MVP favorite Aaron Judge. Although he is primarily a businessman, the Yankees still feel likely to retain him, if only for the regular-season excellence and postseason relevance he helped bring back to the club in 2024.