Orioles, Cubs, Reds superstars predicted to rival Juan Soto's contract by MLB insider

The New York Mets made headlines last year after signing Juan Soto on a record-breaking $765 million deal. However, MLB insider Jeff Passan has predicted the blockbuster contract will be rivaled in the coming years by a few superstars.

Passan, in his latest story for ESPN, shed light on the potential blockbuster deals that could rival the Mets' contract for Soto.

One of the potential mega deals predicted by Passan is for the Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker. The Cubs outfielder avoided arbitration by signing a one-year deal with Chicago after his trade from the Houston Astros in the offseason. The All-Star outfielder is expected to command a contract ranging from $400 to $500 million in free agency.

Cincinnati Reds star Elly De La Cruz is another player who could potentially get a blockbuster deal. However, Passan feels that the electric infielder will need to display MVP-calibre performances to fetch a deal worth around $500 million.

However, the player closest to challenging Juan Soto's record deal is Baltimore Orioles superstar Gunnar Henderson, according to the insider. With age on his side, the All-Star shortstop could fetch a 12-14-year deal rivaling Soto's Mets contract. But Passan said the Orioles shortstop will need to be more consistent to get around the $600 million mark.

Cubs unlikely to retain Kyle Tucker beyond 2025 after reported contract valuation

Former Houston Astros star Kyle Tucker has made a strong start to the 2025 season with his new team. The Cubs outfielder is expected to hit free agency at the end of the season unless he signs an extension with Chicago.

Given Tucker's hot start to the season, the Cubs will need to break the bank to keep hold of the former World Series winner.

The reported $400 million deal for Tucker is more than double the Cubs' franchise record for Jason Heyward, who signed a $184 million deal for eight years in 2015.

Tucker's camp is likely to demand a 10-year deal with a $40 million average annual value (AAV) after Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s $500 million extension with the Blue Jays.

About the author

Chaitanya Prakash is an editor who covers US Sports at Sportskeeda. His first brush with sportswriting was in 2012 when the greatest football manager of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson, bid farewell to the beautiful game.

Although having started out professionally as a cricket writer in 2022, Chaitanya's curiosity and indiscriminate interest in all sports in general eventually introduced him to America's favorite pastime.

While Chaitanya's favorite player from the current crop is the dynamic Venezuelan Ronald Acuna Jr., his all-time favorite, however, is Pedro Martinez, for his self-belief and consistency. He also rates Jose Bautista's iconic bat flip in 2015 as his favorite moment in baseball history.

Chaitanya specializes in reporting on technical aspects of the game or analyzing patterns behind specific plays. He also likes pondering over players' self-assessments following the conclusion of a game as it helps him get an idea of how they think about the sport in general.

When not cheering for his favorites across sports, Chaitanya likes being transported to the past through a good war documentary or a historical documentary in general.

Know More

Edited by Chaitanya Prakash