SF Giants absent from list of teams to make offer for superstar outfielder

There was some confusion as to whether the SF Giants were planning to meet with superstar outfielder Juan Soto earlier this month. However, there is even more clarity as the latest report suggests that the Giants are absent from the list of teams to make an offer to Soto according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.

SF Giants absent from list of teams to make offer for superstar outfielder

The Giants have targeted some of the top free agents in recent seasons. This includes Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Carlos Correa, Shohei Ohtani, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Besides Correa agreeing to an offer sheet and failing a subsequent physical, they have come up empty.

The Giants are seemingly taking a new approach this year. They were originally mentioned as among the teams who were set to meet with Soto. However, that report was quickly refuted. Perhaps, that was done so intentionally so that they would not be used to drive up a free agent's price this time around.

It is well known that Heyman often relays rumors directly from the source. In the case of the Soto sweepstakes, it is his agent, Scott Boras. Boras will often use MLB insiders to try and create a bidding war for a player.

If the player is at a superstar level, then the bidding typically happens organically. Though, Boras will create the perception of a bidding war to drive up a player's price. That is not necessarily what is happening with Soto as he is already a historically great hitter and will undoubtedly land a massive deal in free agency. He does not need Boras to work behind the scenes.

The Giants are seemingly not in the bidding this time around. Heyman reports that the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays are among the teams that have submitted an offer.

Interestingly, Heyman is propping up the Red Sox in his latest report. With the Mets and Yankees seen as the favorites, it would be painful if he landed in Boston instead. Are the Red Sox real players? That remains to be seen but the perception is being created that they are.

The Giants are absent from this list. A lot can change between now and the time Soto signs his deal, but it feels like they will not be in the mix this time around. It also lends further credence to the Giants operating more within a budget this offseason.

Of course, teams plan to abide by a budget every offseason. Those plans typically go out the door when a generational talent is available.

Is it better that the Giants are not involved? That opinion will vary from person to person. On one hand, it allows them to focus on more realistic free agent targets and saves them from the optics of missing out on yet another top free agent. On the other hand, Soto is a superstar and every big-market club should be in the bidding.

There are pros and cons to both sides. Not being in the mix opens the Giants up for criticism, but so does pursuing an unlikely free agent target. With Buster Posey now at the helm, the Giants are setting more modest expectations in the early going.