Soto Sweepstakes: Red Sox Making a Push

The Boston Red Sox, known for their thrifty spenders, suddenly becoming one of the front-runners in the race to sign Juan Soto. This generational slugger is hot property, especially with the rival Yankees gunning for him too. The Red Sox are pitching Soto on their historic park, Fenway, and the lefty-friendly Green Monster. They’re also highlighting their rich history with stars from the Dominican Republic. Soto, a pure hitter who uses all fields, shone in his year with the Yankees. But his numbers were better on the road. The Red Sox believe he could thrive in their park. Born and raised in the National League, Soto has only played a handful of games at Fenway. He’d likely switch from right field to the smaller left field in Boston. Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner recently met with Soto and his agent, Scott Boras. They talked about the team’s history and the potential lineup protection Soto could get from Rafael Devers. The bidding for Soto is just starting, and it’s expected to be fierce. Offers could reach or even exceed $600 million, making it a record deal. The Red Sox have a complicated history with big contracts. They traded Mookie Betts and cut payroll, missing the playoffs for many seasons. But maybe they see Soto as a chance to turn things around. They could sell Soto as the new face of the franchise, something harder to do with the crowded Yankees or Mets. Plus, they have three top prospects coming up. Soto is interested in development systems. The Red Sox can argue they’re on the rise. The Yankees, who got Soto last season, don’t want a Plan B. They want him back. The Mets have deep pockets, and the Blue Jays and Dodgers are also in the mix. Soto might prefer the West Coast, but who knows?