The Boston Red Sox appear to be more invested in the pursuit of Juan Soto than even the most optimistic fans expected them to be.
But until they make a bid for the slugger's services, their interest remains just that — "interest," with nothing to back it up. Boston has become an interest merchant in recent offseasons. It's claimed to throw its hat in the ring for major free agents in the years since 2019, but unimpressive bids have kept talent from signing with the Sox.
Alex Speier of The Boston Globe thinks their bidding habits could change this year. He predicts the Red Sox could make "the largest bid in franchise history" to sign Soto. But that isn't saying much in the scope of Soto's market.
The largest contract the Red Sox have ever offered a player is the 10-year, $313.5 million deal Rafael Devers signed before the 2023 season. Before that, David Price touted the Sox's biggest deal at seven years for $217 million.
Red Sox could make 'largest bid in franchise history' for Juan Soto, but it still may not be enough
Getting vibe that the Red Sox are approaching Juan Soto situation with the kind of intent we haven't seen in some time from them
— Rob Bradford (@bradfo) November 15, 2024
Soto's impending deal has been projected to be around double the price of Devers' franchise-leading contract. Boston's front office has shown no inclination to spend in such quantities in the organization's history, and it doesn't seem likely to start now after years of budget cuts, even if the Sox see Soto as a generational talent.
The news that the Red Sox are in for a record bid could be promising for their other offseason pursuits, though. Boston is sure to have stiff competition for Soto, including the Yankees and Mets, both huge spenders. The Red Sox were outbid for every major free agent they targeted last year, and the New York squads don't seem likely to let Boston get in their way this time. But if the Sox are willing to commit $500 million to Soto, there's no reason why they shouldn't be invested in an ace or two if they lose out on him.
The Red Sox's bid for Soto will show fans just how much they're willing to spend this offseason, and they should still meet it if they whiff on the outfielder. Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell and Max Fried are all available this winter, and Boston's likely Soto bid could land it two aces who could bolster its pitching staff for years to come.