SAN ANTONIO — Nearly 25 years ago, just a short drive from here, Alex Rodriguez and his agent Scott Boras stunned the baseball community by agreeing to the largest contract in the history of the sport with the Texas Rangers.

Now, at the Major League Baseball’s GM meetings in San Antonio, Boras and Juan Soto are aiming to broker another groundbreaking deal, this time potentially reaching around $700 million—far exceeding Rodriguez’s 10-year, $252 million contract signed at the 2000 winter meetings in Dallas.

The parallels are striking, as Soto has just celebrated his 26th birthday two weeks ago, being heralded as the finest pure hitter in baseball. Rodriguez was 25 when he made his historic contract agreement.

Soto boasts a career batting average of .285 with 201 home runs, 592 RBIs, and a .989 OPS. In contrast, Rodriguez had a .309 batting average, 189 homers, 598 RBIs, and a .934 OPS when he first became a free agent.

Rodriguez was seen as one of the best young free agents to ever enter the market, while Boras opines that Soto ranks among the all-time greats for players his age, drawing comparisons to Hall of Famers like Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., and Rodriguez himself.

The key distinction, Boras notes, lies in Soto’s proven ability to shine in crucial moments.

Rodriguez had been with the Seattle Mariners and appeared in a mere two postseason series, never making it to the World Series.

Soto, however, has played for three teams and participated in two World Series: winning in 2019 with the Washington Nationals and losing this past year with the New York Yankees. He also led the San Diego Padres to the National League Championship Series in 2022. Across his postseason career, Soto has 11 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .927 OPS—far exceeding Rodriguez’s three home runs and eight RBIs during his playoff appearances before hitting free agency.

“One thing I’m truly pleased about is that Juan has played in World Series games,” Boras remarked. “He’s had championship experiences. Other than the players from the Dodgers and Astros, Juan has the most at-bats in postseason history. So, he’s been showcased much more than A-Rod was during his younger years. Plus, being in New York City, under the spotlight of such a media hub, everything about Juan Soto is well-known.”

“For a free agent at his age, being surrounded by elite players, being in major markets, and participating in championship scenarios—he ticks every box, unlike A-Rod, who didn’t have that kind of championship background or big-city experience that Juan possesses.”

Soto has expressed to Boras his desire to meet directly with the ownership of any team interested in him, including Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, amid stiff competition from in-town rivals, the New York Mets and owner Steve Cohen.

“They want to win,” noted Yankees GM Brian Cashman. “They are competing in a large market with us. After experiencing some success this past year, they’re motivated to upgrade further. The best way to achieve that is by acquiring top talent to complement what they already have. Ultimately, being the last team standing is what matters, and finding exceptional players to enhance your roster is key.”

While Cohen may possess immense financial resources, estimated at around $20 billion, making him the wealthiest owner in baseball according to Forbes, Cashman believes the competition extends beyond just two teams.

“Having deep-pocketed owners in large markets doesn’t mean they have a monopoly on signing players to substantial contracts,” Cashman commented. “Look at the San Diego Padres on the West Coast; they’ve brought in several high-profile players and secured significant deals. This competitive landscape manifests itself in various forms and locations at different times.”

“The current market is varied and strong from many angles across the baseball spectrum, so we must continuously strive to compete with everyone every year.”

Though Soto certainly appreciated his tenure in New York, according to Boras, the most crucial factor for him will be which teams show commitment to competing yearly and have plans to build around his talents.

“Juan is all about winning,” Boras emphasized. “He seeks a dedicated ownership that shares a vision of consistent annual success. It’s remarkable that a player from humble beginnings in the Dominican Republic, despite the lucrative offers he’s received, still prioritizes understanding the commitment from ownership to pursue victories. If he’s going to devote his career to a franchise, he expects the owner to invest fully in that mission.”

“That’s fundamentally why Juan Soto became a free agent.”

Even though Soto may not bring the same financial prowess as Shohei Ohtani in Los Angeles, whose 10-year, $700 million deferred contract is reaping benefits from Japanese sponsorships and ticket sales, Boras argues that Soto’s addition would significantly enhance a franchise’s overall value.

Boras expressed, “In the player community and talent realm, you truly possess a unique asset. It’s like having a priceless jewel, comparable to the Mona Lisa in a museum. It’s something that draws attention.”

“Moreover, having this individual enables owners to achieve frequent victories. With consistent wins, their revenues skyrocket. It amplifies postseason play, boosts attendance, enhances streaming rights, and heightens international branding—all thanks to having a superstar. He has an astonishing 15 years left in his prime to contribute.”

During a 48-minute discussion, Boras also covered a range of subjects regarding his highlighted free agents:

Will the Astros secure Alex Bregman?

Alex Bregman, who has been a vital player for the Houston Astros throughout his career, has garnered interest from multiple teams regarding a potential switch to second base, which he is open to, according to Boras. He recently underwent surgery to remove debris from his right elbow, but Boras assures that he should recover shortly.

General Manager Dana Brown remains cautiously hopeful about re-signing Bregman, potentially offering him the largest contract in team history. Boras emphasized that the Astros have no alternative but to keep Bregman.

“They recognize the exceptional nature of making it to four World Series and reaching the postseason for eight consecutive years, with Bregman being a crucial part of that success,” Boras remarked. “When it comes to meeting market demands for a player of this caliber, such talents are extremely rare. Bregman can seamlessly transition between second and third base, exemplifying leadership. The market conditions are definitely favorable for him.”

Blake Snell and Corbin Burnes are in high demand

Corbin Burnes is currently the leading free-agent pitcher, but Boras noted a surge of interest in Blake Snell, who pitched for the San Francisco Giants last season, especially following his outstanding performance in the second half. Despite a rough start to the season, Snell went on to have a record of 5-0 and an impressive 1.45 ERA after the All-Star break, allowing just 31 hits while striking out 103 batters over 68.1 innings.

“There’s no doubt that ‘Snelling salts’ led to a lot of strikeouts,” Boras joked. “The market has definitely taken notice.”

Boras also pointed out that Burnes’ value has increased after he finished the last season with a 15-9 record and a 2.92 ERA pitching for the Baltimore Orioles in the challenging AL East, following six seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers.

“He essentially mirrors his previous seasons,” Boras explained. “He is the cornerstone of any strong pitching lineup.”

Boras commented, “Last year, the focus was primarily on relief pitchers, but this year it is evidently shifting towards starting pitchers. I anticipate that starters will be in high demand quickly.”

Should the Division Series be a best-of-seven?

Boras advocates for making MLB’s Division Series a best-of-seven format, similar to the League Championship Series and World Series, rather than the current best-of-five structure.

“The playoff setup, especially for the first five games, is misaligned,” Boras stated. “We need to stop exhausting our talented young pitchers by putting them in situations that would be unacceptable during the regular season.”

“This playoff format can be harmful to how teams develop their players and manage them throughout the season. Young pitchers are brought up and pushed to throw at high speeds, yet they often end up in the bullpen. We should revert to a seven-game format to ensure that starting pitchers are utilized consistently, rather than overworking our young bullpen arms.”