Larry Stone discusses how painful it will be for the Mariners to trade for Juan Soto, and how the pain may very well be worth it:

Now, before you scream that the Mariners would never swim in those financial waters, consider that the ability (or even the desire) to sign Soto is not necessarily a condition for making this trade. Here’s the lure: Soto does not become a free agent until after the 2024 season. The team that acquires the left-handed outfielder, universally regarded as one of the top three players in baseball and still ascending at — it bears repeating — age 23, gets him for three pennant races. And, presumably, three postseasons.

SeattleTimes.com

Stone notes that the Mariners could blunt the cost in prospects by taking on Stephen Strasburg’s contract as well. It strikes me that a team like the Mariners, Indians, or Padres is the right place for Soto to land.

Here are the current odds of teams landing Soto from www.BetOnline.ag:

St. Louis Cardinals	7/1
Seattle Mariners	15/2
Boston Red Sox	9/1
Houston Astros	10/1
Atlanta Braves	12/1
Philadelphia Phillies	12/1
San Diego Padres	12/1
Chicago White Sox	14/1
Los Angeles Angels	14/1