The World Series final game is barely a week old, and the Hot Stove Season is already heating up. One of the most intriguing topics is where superstar outfielder Juan Soto will land for the 2025 season.

The New York Yankees acquired Soto last December as a one-year rental. He had one year left on his contract with his former club, San Diego Padres, which the Yankees assumed in a trade. He just turned 26 years old a few days ago. He is already in the prime of his career, having already finished seven major-league seasons. It was clear that Soto would enter the free-agent market after this season, with the prospect of owning the bank with his new contract.

But the question is which team will have to empty its coffers to get Soto.

The Yankees seem like the natural answer.

Soto helped them get to the World Series, something they hadn’t done in 15 years. Could they have done it without Soto? Perhaps, but not likely. Soto had the second-best season of his career, if you go by OPS+ (178). He was second in the league only behind teammate Aaron Judge, the likely AL MVP, who was the runaway leader with 223 OPS+. The next-highest Yankee in OPS+ was Giancarlo Stanton (115), who played only 114 games. Soto was fourth in the league in Offensive WAR (7.9).

The Yankees’ chances of repeating as AL champs next year are significantly higher with Soto in the lineup again with Judge. But will the Yankees, already with one of the highest payrolls in baseball, shell out the dough to keep Soto? They also have a decision to make about their star pitcher Gerrit Cole, who just informed the Yankees he plans to opt out of his contract.

I think Soto’s asking price will begin with a “5” or “6”, as in $500-600 million over 10 years. Shohei Ohtani got an unthinkable $700 million for 10 years, but Soto’s price won’t go that high, unless he gets a longer deal.

The Yankees will make a respectable offer to Soto, but not likely in his asking range. Any other player would jump at their offer. But you see, Soto will have another viable alternative--that other team in New York.

The New York Mets, under relatively new owner Steven Cohen, currently has a high payroll, too. But his pockets are deeper than the Yankees’ Steinbrenners. He’s anxious to bring the Mets back into relevance every year, despite being in the same division as Atlanta and Philadelphia. Baseball analyst/writer Joel Sheehan wrote this week,” Flags, even very expensive ones, fly forever.”

The Mets showed in the second half of this season they are a team on the verge of being a pennant contender again. Soto could be the one guy who can get them several pennants.

He would be the “top dog” in CitiField. He won’t have to play in the shadow of Judge, the Yankee captain who is a fan-favorite in the Bronx. He’d still have all the attention a big market can offer. I’m guessing that’s something that appeals to him.

For all these reasons, I’m putting my money on Soto to find himself in a Mets pinstripe uniform instead of the Yankee pinstripes.