MLB insider: Red Sox among six teams expected to back Soto originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
As the best free agent on the marketJuan Soto is expected to win a historic contract worth approximately $600 million. One might think that figure immediately disqualifies the Boston Red Sox, who have been reluctant to spend in recent seasons, but one MLB expert says that’s not the case.
During a recent live chat for Bleacher ReportJon Heyman of the New York Post named the Red Sox as one of six teams he expects to participate in the Soto sweepstakes.
“I’m going to put the Red Sox there,” Heyman said. “I understand they haven’t spent…I hope the Red Sox are in. They’ve been a little quiet and I hear a lot about that, but I think the Red Sox will be in. They’re one of six teams that I think will be in…
“Mets, Yankees, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Dodgers. I think there are half a dozen teams. I heard there is a small market team, we’ll call it the mystery team for now. Is that likely? What will happen? It’s very unlikely.”
Heyman adds that pessimistic Red Sox fans were not happy with your previous report, which identified Boston as one of Soto’s possible suitors. That’s not a surprise considering how the front office has approached the last few offseasons. The club hasn’t been willing to make any big changes, so why should fans believe it will suddenly make a serious effort to sign one of the most expensive free agents in MLB history?
That said, signing Soto would help restore fans’ faith in the Red Sox ownership group’s desire to win. I would be give Boston the best talent and star power has been missing since the departure of Mookie Betts in 2020. The four-time All-Star outfielder is just entering his prime, coming off a stellar season in which he hit a career-high 41 home runs with a . 989 for archrival New York. York Yankees.
Whether it’s Soto or other top free agents, the Red Sox must dedicate this offseason to regaining their reputation as contenders in the American League. They have missed the playoffs three straight years and five of the last six seasons.
Although pitching and right-handed hitting are his priorities, the opportunity to sign a generational star like Soto should override anything else on Boston’s offseason to-do list.
