Yankees fans will love ex-MLB GM's Juan Soto prediction, despise his Red Sox take

When it comes down to Juan Soto's fits in MLB free agency, both the New York Yankees and New York Mets are going to be prepared to offer him a metric ton of money to stay in the Big Apple. With the finances being guaranteed, that's when fandom-based delusion and spin kicks in.

Mets fans love to talk about Soto being "just another in a long line of stars" as a negative of his potential Yankees fit, but isn't a richer history typically viewed as a good thing? The same fans love to call themselves the "better team," but which crew went further this past October, and which club is losing an entire rotation and 40-homer first baseman? Quibbles like these make it nice to have an objective arbiter weighing in every so often

If Soto leaves the Bronx for Queens, he won't be the first mega-free agent to pick the Mets, but he'll certainly be the first to leave the Yankees to do so. While Steve Cohen's ridiculously deep pockets make the Mets an excellent fit for legitimately anyone these days, it's likely that the oddness of the situation -- and Soto's comfort in pinstripes -- factored into former MLB GM Jim Bowden's assessment of his favorite fit for the 26-year-old slugger this offseason.

Bowden picked the Yankees as his favorite fit for Soto, aligning with ESPN MLB's panel of experts, a group that predicted 12-to-6 on Tuesday that he'd land back in the Bronx (12 Yankees, 4 Mets, 2 Blue Jays).

Former MLB GM Jim Bowden loves Yankees' fit for Juan Soto, Red Sox fit for Roki Sasaki

Unfortunately, for as "gung ho" as the Yankees might be about Soto, they won't be able to stop the bidding from reaching the level of "financial avalanche." They'll certainly have to pony up to match the Mets and outbid the Blue Jays and Red Sox.

And, besides, Boston might be preoccupied making the bargain deal of the offseason, in Bowden's eyes.

The Red Sox are his "best fit" for Roki Sasaki, and can splash solely international cash on a future Cy Young candidate to top their rotation. Sasaki, once fated to be a Dodger, is reportedly open to at least exploring other markets with robust endorsement potential and dedicated pitching development programs. Check and check for Boston, and Bowden foresees them being able to compete in a shallow cash pool once the international bidding begins anew on Jan. 15 and every team's coffer is reset.

It makes a ton of sense. Hopefully, the Yankees nabbing Soto ends up being just as logical.