Report: Mets among several teams showing interest in Soto

The New York Mets are one of around a dozen teams that already checked in on prized free-agent Juan Soto, reports Mike Puma of the New York Post.

Soto is believed to be looking for a mammoth contract worth at least $700 million, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman.

The 26-year-old is reportedly eyeing a deal with no deferrals after Shohei Ohtani inked a record $700-million pact with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason that's almost entirely deferred.

The Mets, who are coming off their first trip to the NLCS since 2015, are expected to be big spenders on the open market with $90 million in dead money coming off the books from now-traded players such as Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander, and James McCann.

The Dodgers reportedly intend to make a play for Soto this winter if the interest is mutual.

A team can't sign a major-league free agent until five days after the conclusion of the World Series, which ended Wednesday. However, players can re-sign during the five-day period.

Soto recorded a career-high 41 homers with 109 RBIs and a .989 OPS over 157 games during the regular season. He also slashed .327/.469/.633 with four long balls and nine RBIs in the postseason, helping the New York Yankees reach the World Series for the first time in 15 years.