Juan Soto’s free agency saga is just beginning, but according to executives at the General Managers Meetings, it’s likely to be a race made for Frank Sinatra.

New York, New York.

The Yankees and Mets are expected to engage in a bidding war for the superstar slugger, and while other teams such as the Phillies, Dodgers, Giants and Nationals may dip their respective toes in the pool, the wide-ranging belief within the industry is that Soto will wind up in New York when all is said and done. The only question is whether he’ll be calling Queens or the Bronx home.

“It’s the Yankees or the Mets,” one American League executive said when asked to handicap the Soto sweepstakes. “He knows the Yankees well after spending a year there, and Steve Cohen has enough money to give him whatever he wants if he decides he wants him badly enough. It’s tough for me to see Soto winding up anywhere else.”

Word is that Soto prefers to stay on the East Coast, which would be an obstacle for the Dodgers or any other West Coast club. The Phillies will likely take a shot at the four-time All-Star, a source said, hoping the presence of former Nationals teammates Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Kyle Schwarber and hitting coach Kevin Long could work to their advantage. But Soto had a taste of New York in 2024, helping the Yankees advance to the World Series in his first and only season in pinstripes.  Does Soto want to continue hitting in front of [Aaron] Judge or does he want the most money?” said an AL executive who predicted Soto would stay with the Yankees. “Unless the Mets absolutely blow the Yankees’ offer out of the water, why would he leave [the Yankees]?”

Yankees GM Brian Cashman spoke with Scott Boras on Monday, telling the agent that the Yankees are ready to meet with Soto as many times as he wants to if he feels such meetings are necessary. Given Soto’s experience with the Yankees, there wouldn’t appear to be a need for the club to make its pitch to Soto, making the financial offer the biggest factor in those talks.

“He knows how we feel,” Cashman said. “After the season, I had a chance to thank him for everything and told him we'd be in touch. Since that time, I've talked to Scott, as well. He’ll get a feel for the dance steps that Juan Soto wants and he'll keep us in the loop.” Cashman was asked whether Cohen’s financial wherewithal makes him nervous about the possibility of losing Soto to the Yankees’ crosstown rivals, but the GM noted that the Mets aren’t the only competition.

“It's hard to say,” Cashman said. “They want to win. They're in a large market with us, they had a taste of success this year, and they want to move the needle even more forward. The best way to do that is to import quality players to what you already have. That's what we, they, and anybody interested in winning and being the last team standing, that's what it's all about.