The World Series is set to begin this week and will take place between the league’s two biggest markets: the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees.

It’s New York versus Los Angeles. It’s NL MVP versus AL MVP. It’s everything MLB wanted, but it’s everything the average fan hates to see.

These two teams shine in free agency, where they go out and spend more money than the rest of the league. Speaking of free agency, the 2025 offseason will be more important than ever. He has all the assets to completely change the configuration of the league, with Juan Soto headlining the free agent class.

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The Juan Soto sweepstakes that will take place this offseason will likely go to the New York Yankees and New York Mets, unless a third team steps in and is willing to pay $600 million to land Soto.

MLB insider Joel Sherman has cast doubt on whether Soto will remain a Yankee heading into next year, citing Mets owner Steve Cohen as the reason.

“I think Soto loved being a Yankee and, all things being equal (or close to it), he would remain one. But how much? Aaron Judge had stronger ties to the Yankees and agreed to a deal before fully exploring “how far the Giants and Padres could go, I suspect this Scott Boras client will know how far Cohen will go,” Sherman wrote. “Again, consider Yamamoto at $375 million. Cohen went all-in for a pitcher, despite the higher injury frequency, while he was also an MLB mystery. All because he didn’t was only 25 years old.”

In the past, Hal Steinbrenner has mentioned a reduction in overall payroll with his roster. But the team is in the World Series and they have a chance to bring back one of the best players of this generation. If there was one player to make an exception for, it would be Juan Soto.

Still, Steve Cohen will get his chance to bring Soto to the Mets. Many around the game are speculating that the Mets and Yankees will offer Soto similar contracts in terms of overall value. But what if Cohen and the Mets managed to offer $50 million more than the Yankees?

There are few teams in the league that try as hard to win as the San Diego Padres. Ultimately, they continue to fail thanks to the Los Angeles Dodgers, but that doesn’t mean they will stop paying incredible amounts of money to lure top talent to San Diego.

But they have a problem at shortstop. Their 2024 shortstop, Ha-Seong Kim, is set to enter free agency and there are very few options to acquire.

Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors recently discussed the Padres’ problem at shortstop.

“The Padres find themselves in an unfamiliar position. San Diego may be in the market for a shortstop despite its affinity for putting together experienced players at the position. Most of those players have moved on from shortstop. Ha- Seong Kim will be a free agent when he declines his mutual option portion in favor of a $2 million buyout,” Franco wrote. “Kim is one of the toughest free agents to project after his season was cut short by a labrum injury that required surgery.”

Sure, the idea of ​​bringing back someone like Fernando Tatis Jr. at shortstop where he came in might make sense, but Tatis is one of the best defensive outfielders in the game at this point. He may lose value to the team if they bring him back.

It’s difficult to put a timetable on Kim’s return from his injury, but as it appears to be June or July 2025, it’s impossible to count on him returning and being the same player anyway.

San Diego is going to have a pretty intriguing offseason.

The St. Louis Cardinals appear to be heading in a different direction this winter, which could include not extending a qualifying offer to their veteran first baseman.

Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors recently revealed all the players who may or may not receive qualifying offers this winter. Paul Goldschmidt was the best player listed under “long shot.”

“It’s hard to see a qualifying offer for anyone in this group. Goldschmidt is the least likely. The Cardinals are entering a retooling year and he’s coming off the worst season of his career. The former MVP hit better in the second period than him in the first,” Franco wrote. “He should get a solid one-year contract, but it’s unlikely to reach $21 million”

Goldschmidt will likely land in free agency, where he will be free to sign a one-year contract with another team. Teams like the Astros and Cubs could take a chance on Goldschmidt if they can’t land Pete Alonso or Christian Walker. Goldschmidt could get a contract offer in the $10-15 million AAV range over one or two years.

It probably won’t be with the Cardinals.