SF Giants absent from projected free-agent sweepstakes for superstar outfielder

We have been down this road before. All of us. Together. The SF Giants have been connected to a superstar in free agency only to be met with disappointment. Will this time around be different?

SF Giants absent from projected free-agent sweepstakes for superstar outfielder

It just might be, but not in the way you would expect. Jeff Passan of ESPN (subscription required) published his thoughts and predictions for the upcoming free-agent class. It might be too early to start looking at free agency, but the rumor mill does tend to heat up around this time of year.

More often than not, rumors remain rumors. However, that is not always the case. Passan explores the Juan Soto sweepstakes. Of course, the superstar outfielder is expected to land one of the largest contracts in baseball history. In some way, shape or form, the Giants have often been in the mix for that type of player. Oftentimes, on the outside looking on.

Passan does nothing to redefine that narrative as he cites front office executives who believe that the bidding war will come down to the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. That is not terribly surprising.

Soto has fit in seamlessly with the Yankees and looks like a perftect long-term fit. Plus, he is having the type of season that would warrant a historic contract. He is slashing .296/.427/.600 (187 wRC+) with 37 home runs, 95 RBI, and 108 runs in 588 plate appearances. The 25-year-old outfielder is reaching free agency at the perfect time in his career. He has both performance and age well in his favor.

At the end of the day, he will likely remain in New York one way or the other. However, his agent, Scott Boras, will leverage big-market clubs in contract talks. Passan notes that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Boston Red Sox, and Chicago Cubs could afford Soto, but are considered long shots. The Giants are noticeably absent.

With that being said, it would not be surprising to see the Giants enter the mix. Whether that is on their own accord or by Boras' doing remains to be seen, but a good agent keeps all avenues open.

That is not to say that San Francisco has a chance. If anything, the overall impression from Passan seems to suggest that a handful of other teams have much better odds. This offseason might be different, but not in the way some fans would hope.

The Giants have struggled to build a competitive team in recent years and that has hindered some of their pursuits in free agency. For Soto, money will be one of the biggest quantitative factors, but the chance to play for a contender will weigh heavily as well. It is hard to beat what the Yankees bring to the table.