As the MLB Winter Meetings approach, speculation surrounding Juan Soto’s free agency has intensified.
Insiders suggest the superstar outfielder could sign his highly anticipated megadeal during the Dec. 9-12 event.
With offers reportedly exceeding $600 million, the Boston Red Sox have surprisingly positioned themselves as a strong contender in the Soto sweepstakes, potentially outpacing both the New York Yankees and New York Mets.
“The Red Sox have emerged as a favorite – maybe THE favorite – to land Yankees free agent Juan Soto, two people with knowledge of the contract negotiations told NJ Advance Media,” Randy Miller of NJ.com reported.
“The Yankees are still hopeful of re-signing Soto, but they’re now more worried about their AL East rival Red Sox than the crosstown rival Mets, who have the richest owner in Steve Cohen.
“One person with knowledge of the discussions believes the Red Sox, Mets and Blue Jays all have made offers upwards of $600 million while the Yankees are in the $550 million range,” Miller added.
The competition for Soto has reached a boiling point.
According to Miller, the Red Sox, Mets, and Blue Jays have each made offers surpassing $600 million, while the Yankees’ bid is reportedly in the $550 million range.
Miller highlighted a key factor, writing, “Soto’s first offer from the Mets was for $660 million, according to retired All-Star second baseman Carlos Baerga. If that’s accurate, the Yankees probably have no shot at Soto because one of the people told NJ Advance Media that the Yankees expect the final offer to be under $600 million and the Yankees are prepared to move on if the price goes above $600 million.”
Boston’s involvement has sparked speculation about whether the franchise is truly ready to make a financial leap back into the big-spending game.
Recent history suggests otherwise, as the Red Sox have avoided splurging on top free agents since 2019, and their three consecutive playoff misses could make them less appealing to elite players.
However, Miller’s report may signal that owner John Henry is ready to wake up from his long, inexplicable nap.
The Soto negotiations are believed to be in their final stages, with Boston very much in the mix.
A recent update from MLB Network reinforced this, stating that the Mets and Red Sox appear to be the frontrunners for Soto.
While the Red Sox appear poised to make a splash, some experts caution against fully trusting leaked reports during such a high-stakes free agent race.
These leaks might serve as leverage in negotiations, leaving fans uncertain about Boston’s (or Soto’s) true intentions.
If Boston does secure Soto, it could deal a significant blow to the Yankees, who would need to shift their focus to alternative options.
But don’t worry Yankees fans … Miller noted that the Bombers might pursue free agent Tyler O’Neill as a fallback plan.
O’Neill, who hit .241 with an .847 OPS, 31 home runs, and 61 RBIs in 113 games during the 2024 season, could fill the void left by Soto if the Yankees lose the bidding war.
Though his numbers against New York have been underwhelming – a .185 batting average and .688 OPS in 14 games – O’Neill remains one of the top outfielders in the American League.
The Yankees have a history of acquiring former Red Sox outfielders, including Jacoby Ellsbury, Andrew Benintendi, and Johnny Damon. (Hey, a .333 batting average will get you in the Hall of Fame.)
Needless to say, Yankees fans would be furious if Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman allow Soto to walk out the door.
If he ends up signing with the rival Red Sox (or Mets), that would make matters worse.
The only thing that would make that situation even more frustrating is if Cashman and company do in fact sign O’Neill and try to present the swap as a virtual wash.
What are your thoughts on the report that Boston could very well be the frontrunners to land Soto?
Fortunately, we won’t have to wait too much longer before Soto makes his decision.
At the end of the day, where do YOU think he’ll end up???
