Orioles superstar is 'best bet' to break Juan Soto's $765M record, per MLB execs

Not only has the start to the 2025 season been a disaster for the Baltimore Orioles, but it might be reasonable to start fretting about the team's ability to keep its superstars.

The Orioles have been celebrated for their young talent over the past few seasons, and with good reason. Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg, Colton Cowser, and Jackson Holliday all look like staples of the Baltimore lineup.

However, the Orioles haven't shown an inclination to spend much more than they have for the past decade, and eventually, all of those players will hit free agency if they don't get extensions. And Henderson, the closest thing the Orioles have to a Most Valuable Player, will be the toughest one to keep.

It may not take the $765 million the New York Mets paid Juan Soto this winter. But it's not outside the realm of possibility.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Jeff Passan projected the future contract values of young stars around Major League Baseball, and was told by multiple front office executives that Henderson (who Passan projected for a $600 million deal) had the best shot to break Soto's record.

"Henderson was the one player mentioned by every executive as the best bet to beat Soto. And even then, executives said, it's a long shot," Passan wrote.

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"In his two full seasons, Henderson has already put up more than 15 WAR, including a nine-win showing last year that was better than any year Soto ever posted. Even then, Henderson needs more years of consistent quality before he can be looking at $600 million, let alone $765 million."

Henderson, 23, isn't off to a strong start this season (join the club). But he finished fourth in what was a loaded MVP field in the AL last season, and thanks to his early debut, he's scheduled to hit the open market at age 27.

The Orioles should obviously try to keep Henderson from ever hitting free agency, but unless he's willing to take a hometown discount, it's hard to envision them offering a high enough dollar amount. That spells trouble for the offseason of 2029.

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