Report: Blue Jays considered serious obstacle to Mets, Yankees for Soto

Juan Soto signing with a New York team may not be a forgone conclusion.

The Toronto Blue Jays are considered a viable obstacle to the favored New York Mets and New York Yankees for Soto, sources told Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

The field of suitors also includes the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Boston Red Sox, and two mystery teams, Heyman reports.

All eight clubs will reportedly meet with Soto in California beginning this week.

The Blue Jays are coming off a last-place finish in the AL East and need a left-handed power bat. They made a serious but unsuccessful attempt at signing Shohei Ohtani last offseason.

Soto told reporters after the World Series that he'd consider "all 30 teams" when choosing his new home, but he prefers those that win and show how much they want him.

His new deal is expected to be at least 13 years long and eclipse the $40-million annual value of former Yankee teammate Aaron Judge, setting a new benchmark for position players.

Soto, 26, is coming off an exceptional season in New York for which he was named an American League MVP finalist.

The Dominican phenom slugged a career-high 41 home runs while posting a .989 OPS (178 OPS+). His 8.1 fWAR ranked third in the AL behind Judge (11.2) and Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. (10.4).

Soto owns a 160 OPS+ across seven MLB seasons.