MLB analyst Harold Reynolds stirred debate recently with an unexpected prediction about Juan Soto‘s future, suggesting the star outfielder might leave the Yankees for the Toronto Blue Jays. Reynolds speculated that the Blue Jays have a stronger chance of signing Soto than his current team.
This forecast has raised eyebrows, particularly given the contrasting outlooks of both franchises. The Blue Jays, who pursued Shohei Ohtani before his move to the Dodgers, have shown their financial muscle, yet they haven’t found postseason success since 2016. Meanwhile, Soto holds a prominent role with the Yankees, fresh off an American League championship appearance.
Reynolds’ take drew a swift response from Gary Sheffield Jr., host of the “Yankees Unloaded” podcast and son of former MLB star Gary Sheffield. Sheffield Jr. voiced his surprise on social media, acknowledging the Blue Jays’ interest but questioning their odds of outbidding the Yankees, especially after Soto’s World Series run with New York.
Yankees remain way above Jays in Soto sweepstakes
Skepticism surrounding Reynolds’ prediction reverberated across the baseball community. While Toronto remains in the hunt for Soto, many insiders view both New York clubs—the Yankees and Mets—as primary contenders, with Los Angeles also in the mix. Even underdog teams like Boston and Tampa Bay are speculated to be exploring options.
Former Yankees outfielder Cameron Maybin joined Sheffield in questioning Reynolds’ assessment. In a follow-up, Maybin remarked that while finances will undoubtedly influence Soto’s next steps, he doubted Toronto would be a top choice if the offers were comparable, ranking the Blue Jays low on Soto’s list.
The debate comes amid Soto’s stellar season with the Yankees, where he paired with Aaron Judge as an essential force in their lineup. Soto’s season stats were outstanding: a .288 batting average, a .419 on-base percentage, and .569 slugging, along with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs. His MVP-caliber performance only strengthens his market appeal, adding fuel to speculation over his next destination.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Boras can’t afford to have Soto go-to Toronto, after what happened last winter. Toronto hasn’t put enough into trying to win every year, do it would be just a money grab. But Boras’s words would just be words, nothing more.