MLB insider takes a shot at Chicago Cubs over potential Juan Soto free agency pursuit

With the World Series now in the rearview mirror, the focus for Major League Baseball turns to the offseason and the free agency sweepstakes for Juan Soto taking center stage.

Soto and the New York Yankees lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the decision game 5 on Wednesday night. When asked about his free agency after the game, Soto emphasized the importance of being on a winning team.

And Soto on what's important: "I feel like everybody wants to be on a winning team. That's one of the biggest things that you look up to. You want to be part of this. Even if you don't make it to the last team standing, you want to be involved in all these (games). So I think…
— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) October 31, 2024

Soto didn't seem to rule out any team while speaking with reporters after the World Series but the overwhelming belief has been that he will return to the Yankees or, if not, sign with the New York Mets. The Yankees and Mets are the heavy favorites for Soto entering the offseason but nearly every team will, at the very least, make a call.

Jon Heyman seemed to confirm that the Chicago Cubs will make the preliminary call to express interest in Soto but had a comedic quip about how realistic their shots are at signing the superstar outfielder.

.@JonHeyman expects the Cubs to make a call on Juan Soto. He doesn't expect much more beyond that from Cubs.

"Are they a realistic team to get him?" Heyman says. "I doubt it … $177 million for Dansby Swanson was really stepping out for them."

Listen: https://t.co/jwDK1C0clX pic.twitter.com/XwFuKf78Mv
— 670 The Score (@670TheScore) October 31, 2024

The seven-year contract that the Cubs gave Dansby Swanson prior to the 2023 season is the largest deal in the history of the organization. Point being that if the Cubs had to be pressed to sign Swanson, a good but not great player, for $177MM, it seems unlikely that they will entertain the idea of going over $400MM for Soto.

It's the perfect comparison for the issue when it comes to Hoyer's roster construction. Spending money is not the Cubs' issue. How the Cubs spend their money is the problem. The Cubs give $177MM to Swanson and believe that is the luxury-ticket move. It's a sign that what the Cubs value is not the consensus across Major League Baseball. Swanson is a good player but when talking about a contract that is the largest in the history of the organization, the Cubs aren't getting their return on investment.

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