According to Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith, the Toronto Blue Jays appear ready to step out of their comfort zone for Juan Soto, but not for anyone else.

Nicholson-Smith wrote the following Friday:

This past offseason, ownership of Rogers Communications Inc., which also owns Sportsnet, approved a roughly $700 million offer for Shohei Ohtani, but that was considered a special circumstance. The money was there for Ohtani, but he was not available to redistribute it elsewhere.

A year later, the same thinking applies to Soto, who is even younger than Ohtani at 26 years old.

On one hand, it’s understandable, but on the other, it’s frustrating for Jays fans. First and foremost, the Blue Jays finished last in the American League East last season. They have clear needs on the field and in the bullpen. If they have $700 million for Soto, why can’t they spend a good chunk of it to fill those holes if he doesn’t come to Toronto?

But then again, that’s understandable too. Soto is a special player and he’s a player you take risks on that you wouldn’t take on everyone else. Signing Soto would help alleviate some of the issues Blue Jays offensive problems, but they would still have problems in the infield.

However, since Soto hit .288 with 41 homers and 109 RBIs last season for the Yankees, he could be counted on to take some of the burden off those other positions.

Soto is already ranked in the top three in American League MVP voting. The results will be known next week.

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