The Boston Red Sox's first free agent acquisition of the offseason came later than expected and they didn't sign the player most fans and reporters imagined.
The Red Sox bounced back from their loss of Alex Bregman by signing longtime Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ranger Suárez. Both players have top-tier postseason résumés and leadership qualities the Red Sox have lacked in their position player and pitcher groups in recent years.
Both players are also represented by infamous agent Scott Boras, who also represents Pete Alonso, Xander Bogaerts, Tyler O'Neill and other players familiar with Boston's free agent negotiation process. Familiarity and timing made one of Boras' comments during the presser even funnier (and more unfortunate) than it should've been.
"First of all, I want to thank John [Henry] and Tom [Werner], who are always available, always ready to do what they need to do to improve their team," Boras said.
Fenway Sports Group and Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner were present for Suárez's introduction. Appearances from Boston's owners have become increasingly rare in recent years and their recession from the spotlight suspiciously coincides with the club's decision to pull back on its spending.
Scott Boras makes laughable comment about Red Sox owners at Ranger Suárez's introductory press conference
Not only is Henry, and to a lesser extent Werner, rarely available to press, Boras' definition of "always ready" must be different than the one we all know. The Red Sox surely weren't ready to pay Bogaerts or Mookie Betts, they wouldn't commit to offering Bregman a no-trade clause and they backed out of a 10-year commitment they made to Rafael Devers because they had no intention of paying him as a full-time designated hitter.
This criticism isn't to undercut the importance of the Red Sox's signing of Suárez — Boston doesn't need him as much as it needs a bat at this stage, but his is the longest free agent contract the Red Sox have given out since Masataka Yoshida signed before the 2023 season. He brings a clear No. 2 to Boston's long-term pitching plan with his five-year contract. Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello are signed for similar amounts of time, and the three pitchers make up a great core for Boston's rotation for the next few years (subscription required).
Boras' comment gave Sox fans a laugh, in a backwards sort of way. It was strange to hear Red Sox management being complimented for its commitment to improving just over a week after it completely misread the market for Bregman's services, but at least they landed Suárez to field one of the more fearsome rotations in the American League.