Juan Soto destination is the best case scenario for Orioles fans

Well, we've finally made it through the Juan Soto saga. Unfortunately, he didn't sign with the Orioles but we've know that wasn't going to happen for over a month now. Late Sunday night, the drama came to a close, as it was announced that Soto has signed a record breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets.

It was reported by Bob Nightengale of USA Today that the New York Yankees appeared to be leaders in the Soto sweepstakes until late in the process. Apparently the Yankees had a 16-year deal on the table for $760 million, but ultimately the 26 year old chose to go play in Queens with the little-brother Mets.

Under the direction of new owner Steve Cohen, the Mets are now among the biggest players in the market. Cohen's multi-billion dollar fortune allows the Mets to spend recklessly in the free agent market and be in play for anyone they want, as we'd seen previously with Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander.

Juan Soto finalizes record breaking contract with the New York Mets

For Orioles fans, this has to be seen as the best possible destination for Soto, and even more so if he plays there for the life of the contract. Soto had been rumored to be strongly considering both the Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, along with the Toronto Blue Jays to a lesser extent in the AL East. The Los Angeles Dodgers were also in the bidding into the late stages.

For Soto to have three AL East clubs competing for his services and him ultimately choosing none of them, that's a huge win for the Orioles who won't have to face off regularly against Soto in his prime years. Him landing in Los Angeles always seemed a bit unlikely, but the Dodgers already have a juggernaut out there and adding Soto to the mix would have been trouble for the entire league.

For now, Soto will make his home at Citi Field. Citi isn't a great park for hitters but Soto is such a dominant hitter that it's unlikely to matter much in the short term. He'll leave behind an extremely friendly Yankee Stadium, in particular the short right field porch, but is sure to remain one of the best hitters in baseball for years to come.

Orioles fans are right to be disappointed in the fact that Soto will likely never play in an Orioles uniform. But given the cost to acquire him, and the fact that he won't make his home in the AL East, it's about as good an outcome as we could have asked for.