There’s no question that Juan Soto won’t come cheap and the Boston Red Sox, fresh off three straight postseason non-appearances, understand that.
Soto’s embarked on meeting after meeting, giving teams a chance to have their say and present their case, including the Red Sox. Word on the street is Soto was “impressed” by what Boston had to say during their multi-hour-long meeting in California. That still, however, leaves the rest of the listed competitors such as the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers in Boston’s way.
Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy was able to ensure Boston’s commitment to pulling whatever strings this offseason, on the organization’s behalf.
“Is that possible? If that’s what it takes, yeah, absolutely,” Kennedy said at the MLB owners meetings in New York, per Michael Silverman of The Boston Globe. “We are investing more than we did last year. We intend to invest going forward.”
Kennedy continued: “Even if it takes us over the CBT. Our priority is 90 to 95 wins, and winning the American League East, and winning the division for multiple years.”
Soto, one of many Scott Boras clients, is projected to sign for anywhere in the $500 million ballpark this offseason — or possibly more. That’s an enormous commitment that, for any team, would speak volumes about the willingness to win immediately. Soto, 26, just reached the World Series with the Yankees and lost in five games, five years after hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy with the Washington Nationals.
Meanwhile, for the Red Sox, it’s been six years since the last time Fenway Park hosted the World Series. Five out of the past seven seasons have been duds with Boston missing the playoffs completely, and in three of those the Red Sox have finished dead last in the American League East.
Boston’s already been rejected by Nick Pivetta after extending a $21.05 million qualifying offer. Outfielder Tyler O’Neill, the club’s leader in home runs (31) last season, also hit free agency, joining bullpen arms Kenley Jansen and Chris Martin. Therefore, the Red Sox have their work cut out for them beyond the race for Soto.
“In our free agency discussions so far, there has been, I would say, a very strong feeling from agents and players that the Boston Red Sox are going to be a force over the next five to seven years, given the guys who have already emerged at the big league level and the guys who are coming from the Triple-A and levels below that level,” Kennedy added, per Silverman.
The Red Sox are a year removed from signing Rafael Devers to a massive 11-year, $331 million mega extension and two calendar years from signing Trevor Story to a six-year, $140 million deal — the two biggest contracts on Boston’s current payroll. Adding Soto to the mix has a luxurious price tag, but also comes with the potential to re-direct the Red Sox back to their winning ways as well.
From the sound of Kennedy’s words, that seems to be priority No. 1 moving forward.
