The Boston Red Sox are due for a big offseason, and that may be an understatement. A Red Sox team that lacks star power is in the midst of its third-straight August collapse, and a certain outfielder may be able to prevent such an event next year — Juan Soto.
The current New York Yankee will become a free agent after the 2024 season ends, and he'll have a line of suitors throwing money at him until he's signed. Soto is a generational talent and is likely seeking one of the most expensive contracts in MLB history before his age-26 season.
Most experts agree that the Yankees and Mets will be the frontrunners in the bidding war for Soto's services. Others have thrown the Dodgers into the mix, but they may be out on any more huge contracts after their 2023-24 offseason performance.
The Red Sox are rarely taken seriously as contenders for a Soto deal, though, and MLB insider Jeff Passan agrees. He named Boston alongside the Cubs and Dodgers as teams that could afford Soto, but they're not frontrunners for one of the most expensive players in history.
Jeff Passan names Red Sox as "long shot" candidates for Juan Soto in free agency
Executive-level sources predict the Yankees and Mets will compete to sign Juan Soto for a minimum of $500 million 👀
— ESPN (@espn) August 27, 2024
Here's the latest free agency reporting from @JeffPassan 🔗 https://t.co/kgPkpQJskh pic.twitter.com/dw6nKYSwXU
Based on John Henry and Fenway Sports Group's recent track record with the Red Sox, he's probably right. Experts have estimated Soto's future contract to be somewhere in the $500-600 million range, and Red Sox ownership hasn't been keen to spend that kind of money on anything except golf in the past few seasons.
But Soto would change the landscape of Boston's outfield and offense. His defense ranks just below average and he'd probably be best suited to left field at Fenway Park — next to Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran, Soto's defense would be an afterthought. If he batted behind Duran and in front of Triston Casas and Rafael Devers, the Red Sox would be an opposing pitcher's worst nightmare.
It's highly unlikely that the Sox make a real push for Soto this offseason, and mentioning them among contending teams is a bit of a tease on Passan and other experts' parts. But that shouldn't excuse Henry's low spending in recent seasons, and the Red Sox front office shouldn't pull the same stunt again this year.
Boston's front office told fans it would spend to improve when its next round of top prospects reach the big leagues. Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel and Roman Anthony are all in Triple-A, just one step from MLB. The Red Sox are due to make big moves, and if Soto isn't involved, they should still be expected to deliver this winter.