MLB News: Juan Soto deal, Mets-Alonso bad news, Braves trade deadline shift

Mets trading Pete Alonso could complicate free agency plans
Jon Heyman predicts Juan Soto’s next contract
Braves more likely to add pitching than a starting outfielder

On the most recent installment of The Baseball Insiders Podcast, FanSided MLB expert Robert Murray spoke with New York Post writer Jon Heyman. They discuss a wide range of trade deadline subjects, including Luis Robert Jr.’s market with the Chicago White Sox and the greatest player who may be able to switch teams in the upcoming several months.

Since Murray and Heyman are two of the best when it comes to breaking news, there is bound to be some delicious information and a few very well-informed predictions that merit additional analysis.

For your enjoyment on this wonderful Thursday afternoon, here are the most recent MLB rumours.

Pete Alonso might very likely be traded by the New York Mets before July 30 at 6 p.m. ET. The Mets need to make some big changes if they want to have any chance of winning the NL East. Alternatively, they could wait until the next season, when David Stearns, Steve Cohen, and the front office can attempt a major free agent retool.

In principle, that’s a terrific concept, and Heyman thinks the Mets should sell if their current problems don’t get better. Re-signing Alonso after moving him is a difficult notion to pull off. Heyman cautions Mets supporters not to get too excited.

After a trade, the Mets cannot count on Alonso to resign. Alonso would have a half-season to adjust to his new surroundings in addition to the possibility that the Mets might be outbid. Would it really surprise us if he were traded to the Yankees or Cubs, for example, and loved his new surroundings even more? Alonso was not on a winning team with the Mets for a long time. He might not even entertain the idea of a reunion if he had the opportunity to win games in a more successful team.

New York has the financial resources to win every time if it’s really a money game, but they also can’t be gullible. Trading Alonso sends a message that might drive him away permanently.

MLB Rumours: Jon Heyman believes Juan Soto will sign a big 14-year contract
Thanks to Aaron Judge and Juan Soto leading an unstoppable offence, the New York Yankees have the best record in baseball. The latter came in through an off-season trade and hit the ground running in the Bronx. After 246 at-bats, Soto is slashing.317/.432/.593, with 17 home runs and 53 RBI, putting up MVP-caliber stats. To put it simply, Soto is among his generation’s top hitters.

In a few months, Soto will also become a free agent. As a 26-year-old free agent with three All-Star selections and four Silver Slugger honours under his resume, he has an opportunity to earn a historic payday. Soto is entering the free market ahead of schedule and could continue to produce at a high level for the next ten or more years.

Hal Steinbrenner has talked about signing Soto again during the season, but that is not going to happen. Murray and Heyman are in agreement. Soto has rejected seven offers of extensions from various organisations thus far. As a free agent, Scott Boras, his agent, has a lengthy history of pushing hard for the biggest contract number. He forbids his clients from using in-season negotiations to cap their worth.