Part 5/8:
One crucial aspect that hasn't been extensively discussed is the potential fallout from the luxury tax penalties associated with signing a player like Soto, who is a candidate for the qualifying offer. If the Mets choose to pursue other top-tier free agents who may also come with qualifying offers, they risk losing multiple draft picks and valuable international spending money. For instance, signing Soto alone can lead to forfeiting their second and fifth-round picks, plus a million dollars in international bonus pool money.