Blue Jays Rumors: Close Juan Soto source hints at massive offer from Toronto

The offseason hasn't even officially begun, but the free agent rumors are already swirling around the Toronto Blue Jays. The latest rumor is a real doozy.

The Blue Jays will reportedly make an offer to New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto when free agency begins in November — and it won't be just any offer. According to NJ Advance Media's Randy Miller, there's a good chance that general manager Ross Atkins plans to offer Soto what his source refers to as "an astronomical offer" (subscription required).

Juan Soto source hints at massive offer coming from Blue Jays

Miller received the tip-off thanks to one of Soto's former teammates, who's still a close friend and keeps in touch with the Yankees slugger but wished to remain anonymous.

“Look for the Blue Jays to make an astronomical offer,” the source said, per Miller. “I heard it with my own ears."

This implies that Soto's camp has already heard something from someone in the Blue Jays organization, although anything at this point would have to be purely unofficial and off the record. But the fact that someone this close to Soto revealed this is an enticing way to start the offseason for Blue Jays fans.

The Blue Jays have already been mentioned as one of the five teams expected to bid for Soto's services — he's expected to sign for something topping $500M. Even if they offer the highest number, it's hard to envision Toronto beating out the Yankees or New York Mets, considered the frontrunners in the impending Soto sweepstakes.

Juan Soto would help the Blue Jays get one step closer to contending in 2025

The Blue Jays have said repeatedly, ever since the trade deadline, that they intend to contend in 2025. They have a lot of work to do to get to that point, but landing Soto would make everyone feel better about their chances, even if he won't fix the bullpen.

The 25-year-old Soto ranked fourth in MLB this season with 8.1 fWAR, batting .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs and 109 RBI. He has already won a World Series with the Washington Nationals in 2019, four Silver Sluggers and a batting title since debuting as a 19-year-old in 2018. Soto would be welcomed to Rogers Centre with open arms, especially by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The two share a special bond from their days playing in the Dominican Republic.

On the flip side, there's also the possibility that Soto's agent, Scott Boras, is already playing his games. Boras is notorious for playing teams off against each other to drive up his clients' prices. Not that interested parties need much convincing to offer Soto a massive contract this winter.

Despite the Blue Jays' huge offer to Shohei Ohtani last offseason, there were always lingering questions about whether Ohtani would have seriously considered coming to Toronto or if the hapless Blue Jays front office was just used to force the price up to the $700M the Los Angeles Dodgers shelled out?

After Atkins reportedly went after Soto last winter following the Ohtani disappointment, it sounds like he's planning on taking Blue Jays fans for another wild ride this offseason. Let's hope it works out this time.