**Juan Soto Bidding War Begins as MLB Offseason Heats Up**

As the MLB offseason progresses, the bidding for superstar Juan Soto is set to officially commence this week. Soto, along with his renowned agent Scott Boras, have spent recent weeks meeting with various interested teams, primarily for familiarization and discussions surrounding a commitment to winning. Among the frontrunners are the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, and Yankees. Other teams, such as the Phillies, Rays, and Royals, have also shown interest, though it's unclear if formal meetings have taken place. Insiders suggest that Soto's free agency could conclude swiftly, potentially wrapping up by the upcoming Winter Meetings in two weeks.

In other offseason developments, the Baltimore Orioles are in the market for a quality backup catcher to alleviate some of the workload from their franchise catcher, Adley Rutschman. General Manager Mike Elias emphasized the need for this support to ensure Rutschman can spend more days as designated hitter to reduce wear and tear. Candidates like James McCann, Kyle Higashioka, Carson Kelly, and Gary Sánchez are among the free agents considered for the role.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers have started preliminary discussions on a contract extension with NLCS MVP Tommy Edman. Acquired from the Cardinals in a trade, Edman shone with a fantastic postseason performance, hitting .328/.354/.508 in October. The Dodgers are hopeful that they can keep Edman, currently slated for free agency after the 2025 season, potentially offering a deal similar to Chris Taylor's four-year, $60 million contract in 2021-22.

The San Francisco Giants are reportedly evaluating Tomoyuki Sugano, a standout pitcher from Japan's Yomiuri Giants. Sugano, 35, is now free to sign with any MLB team as an international free agent. Known for his exceptional control and a deep pitching arsenal, Sugano posted a remarkable 1.67 ERA over 156 2/3 innings this past season. His age might mean a short-term contract, which could be appealing for teams looking for high-upside pitching options.

In a move to bolster their infield, the Colorado Rockies have signed utility player Kyle Farmer to a one-year deal worth $3.25 million. Farmer, who played with the Twins last season and finished strong with a .744 OPS in his final 57 games, is expected to replace Brendan Rodgers at second base. With established players like Ezequiel Tovar at shortstop and Ryan McMahon at third base, Farmer's versatility will be a valuable asset for the Rockies in the upcoming season.