The Boston Red Sox have been linked to superstar free agent outfielder Juan Soto by a handful of insiders. Some fans are thrilled about the connection. Others, less so.
The Red Sox have shown "interest" in most of the market's top free agents in the past few offseasons, but their contract offers have been underwhelming and easily bested by other clubs. Soto is expected to be one of the highest-paid players in MLB history when he signs this winter, and much of Red Sox Nation doesn't expect Boston to make the slugger a competitive offer.
Most experts believe Soto will sign with one of the two New York squads. He seemed to have great chemistry with the Yankees as he contended for a World Series, and Mets owner Steve Cohen could be prepared to sign him to the biggest contract in history. But the Red Sox may have an unexpected edge.
On Nov. 13, Tyler Milliken of the "Section 10" podcast posted a clip from a 2021 interview in which Soto says the Red Sox were his favorite childhood team. He mentioned their Dominican icons — Manny Ramírez, David Ortiz and Pedro Martínez — as the main reason for his fandom.
Juan Soto interview from 2021 shows the superstar saying his favorite childhood team was the Red Sox
From Soto in 2021:
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) November 13, 2024
“Since I was a child, my favorite MLB team was always Boston because of the Dominicans who played with them: Manny Ramírez, David Ortiz and Pedro. The Red Sox have always been my favorite team.”
Plus they’re neighbors. Get him there.
https://t.co/090Xv35oVK https://t.co/MdtBObHahS
Soto, also a Dominican native, could become part of another deadly Dominican trio if the Red Sox can bring him to Boston. He, Rafael Devers and Brayan Bello, who is mentored by Martínez, could be just as dangerous as his favorite players were while they donned Red Sox uniforms together. Bello is just 25 years old and has plenty of growing to do before he becomes a true ace, but the long-term deal Soto seeks would keep him in Boston long enough for it to happen.
The Sox's dominance during Soto's childhood could give the club a boost in free agent discussions, but the Mets and Yankees have more star power, have spent more money and contended for more playoff spots in the past six seasons than Boston has. The Red Sox's recent complacency could come back to bite them in that respect.
In that same vein, Boston has saved plenty of money on payroll since 2019 by allowing Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts to leave the organization and avoiding other big free agent contracts. The team's fandom is suffering because of it — Fenway Park is far from full on a nightly basis and the club's TV ratings have taken a serious hit. The Red Sox need to make a move, and signing a generational talent like Soto could be it.
The Red Sox have been so miserly in recent seasons that fans seem to have forgotten that team owner John Henry and his Fenway Sports Group have more than enough money for a mega-deal, especially for a player of Soto's caliber. If Boston makes a competitive offer and gets some of Soto's favorite players across from him at the negotiating table, it may be able to pull off an improbable victory.