MLB insider: Red Sox among the six teams expected to join Soto originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
As the absolute top free agent on the market, Juan Soto is widely expected to land a historic contract worth around $600 million. You would think this figure would immediately disqualify the Boston Red Sox, who have been reluctant to spend in recent seasons, but an MLB insider says that is not the case.
During a recent live chat for Bleacher Report, Jon Heyman of the New York Post named the Red Sox as one of six teams he expects to be involved in the Soto sweepstakes.
“I’m going to put the Red Sox in,” Heyman said. “I understand they haven’t spent anything. I do expect the Red Sox to be there. They’ve been a little quiet and I hear a lot about that, but I believe the Red Sox are in. They’re one of six teams which I think they will join in….
“Mets, Yankees, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Dodgers. I think there’s about half a dozen teams in there. I heard there’s a small market team, we’ll call it the mystery team for now. Is that likely? will happen? Very unlikely.”
Heyman adds that pessimistic Red Sox fans were unhappy with his previous report, which identified Boston as one of the potential Soto candidates. That’s no surprise given the way the front office has approached the last few seasons. The club wasn’t willing to make any big leaps, so why would fans believe that the club would suddenly make a serious attempt to sign one of the most expensive free agents in MLB history?
That said, signing Soto would help restore the fanbase’s faith in the Red Sox ownership group’s desire to win. It would give Boston the deepest talent and star power it has lacked since Mookie Betts’ departure in 2020. The four-time All-Star outfielder is just now entering his prime after an outstanding season in which he recorded a career-best 41. home runs with a .989 OPS for the archrival New York Yankees.
Whether it’s Soto or other top players, the Red Sox need to spend this offseason trying to regain their reputation as a contender in the American League. They have missed the playoffs three years in a row and five of the last six seasons.
While pitching and hitting right-handed are their priorities, the opportunity to sign a generational star like Soto should trump all other items on Boston’s offseason to-do list.
