Calling Soto 'Mona Lisa of the museum,' Boras indicates client may try to top Ohtani's record $700M

SAN ANTONIO -- Agent Scott Boras indicated Juan Soto whitethorn beryllium seeking to apical Shohei Ohtani’s grounds $700 cardinal statement because he is 3 years younger than nan Japanese two-way prima was erstwhile he reached his woody pinch nan Los Angeles Dodgers.

Boras gave a pun-filled, 48-minute appraisal of nan marketplace astatine nan wide managers meetings connected Wednesday, calling Soto “the Mona Lisa of nan museum.” Boras said only a fistful of players person matched Soto’s accomplishments astatine property 26, mentioning Willie Mays, Hank Aaron and Ted Williams, and boasted “he has virtually 15 years much of his premier to offer.”

“You’re talking astir a business opportunity wherever you tin make virtually billions of dollars by acquiring somebody,” Boras said. “You tin really spot that owners, wide managers, that they’re benignant of called upon to beryllium title magicians. ... It’s difficult to do, to put together that magic of a title run, but down each awesome magician evidently is nan magic Juan.”

Ohtani agreed to his 10-year statement precocious past twelvemonth and helped lead nan squad to its second World Series title successful 5 years. The woody contains $680 cardinal successful deferred money payable from 2034-43, reducing its mean yearly worth for purposes of baseball’s luxury taxation to astir $46.08 million.

“I don’t deliberation Ohtani has overmuch to do pinch Juan Soto, astatine all,” Boras said. "It’s not thing we talk aliases consider. Juan Soto is — he’s successful an property class that separates him from all.”

He wouldn’t publically talk specifics of what Soto is seeking.

“I’m not going to talk astir dollars and cents. That’s thing we’ll return attraction of pinch nan clubs,” Boras said.

He dismissed nan thought of Soto accepting deferred money akin to Ohtani.

“I don’t deliberation that taxation considerations are nan focal constituent erstwhile you’re talking astir a business opportunity wherever you tin make virtually billions of dollars by acquiring somebody,” he said.

Boras radiated successful attempts astatine joke erstwhile discussing respective of his apical free agents:

—First baseman Pete Alonso, nicknamed nan Polar Bear: “We perceive a batch astir nan carnivore marketplace for power-hitting first baseman and for Pete’s sake, it’s nan polar opposite.”

—Pitcher Corbin Burnes: “He continues to beryllium a Corbin transcript of his erstwhile seasons.”

—Pitcher Blake Snell: “There’s nary uncertainty that nan Snelling salts person created a batch of whiffs.”

—Third baseman Alex Bregman: “He’s provided nan Astros pinch an infusion of title blood. I’d opportunity everything astir him is AB positive.”

Soto was traded from Washington to San Diego successful 2022 aft turning down a $440 million, 15-year offer. He was dealt to nan New York Yankees past December and deed .288 pinch 41 homers, 109 RBIs and 128 runs, hitting 2nd successful nan batting bid up of Aaron Judge. The Yankees want to clasp Soto aft he helped them scope nan World Series for nan first clip since 2009.

Soto is expected to beryllium pursued by nan New York Mets and billionaire proprietor Steve Cohen.

“The Mets are evidently trying to get to their goal, which is winning a world championship,” Boras said. “I deliberation they’ve been very clear astir pursuing this aggressively.”

Soto intends to meet pinch owners who want him.

“I’m going to perpetrate my profession to it and I want nan proprietor to perpetrate his resources to it,” Boras said of his client’s mindset. “That’s really why Juan Soto became a free agent.”

Boras said Soto would beryllium a moneymaker for whichever squad he signs with.

“When nan owners triumph repeatedly, their revenues skyrocket. They create nan effect of postseason play, attendance, authorities successful nan streaming world,” he said. “Plus nan world branding.”

Boras maintained that disruption successful broadcast gross should not beryllium a facet successful nan market, which was slow past offseason aft Diamond Sports Group revenge for bankruptcy. MLB took complete broadcasts of nan San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks during nan 2023 season, nan Colorado Rockies this twelvemonth and nan Cleveland Guardians, Milwaukee Brewers and Minnesota Twins for 2025.

“The TV uncertainty was benignant of past year’s question,” Boras said. “Clubs person been offered contracts for (regional sports networks) and they’ve rejected them. They’re building their ain platforms.”

Boras repeated that Bryce Harper remains unfastened to adding to his woody pinch nan Phillies, a $330 million, 13-year statement done 2031.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb