Earlier in the MLB offseason, the Yankees were viewed as one of the likeliest winners of the Juan Soto sweepstakes.
Now, the Bronx Bombers might be on the outside looking in.
The race to sign Soto seemingly is heating up, as Thanksgiving is in the rearview mirror and the Winter Meetings are quickly approaching. The superstar outfielder reportedly has offers on the table and he’s widely expected to make his highly anticipated decision in early December.
The Red Sox reportedly are a legitimate contender to land Soto, so much so that Boston’s fiercest rival is worried about the possibility.
“I’m hearing the Yankees fear the Red Sox more than anyone else,” NJ.com’s Randy Miller said Saturday on WFAN, as transcribed by SNY’s Danny Abriano.
Miller’s report fell in line with a recent claim made by fellow insider Jon Heyman, who revealed the Yankees increased their offer in hopes of making a stronger appeal to Soto. The bump might have been too little, too late, though, as Miller believes Aaron Boone’s side will “finish fourth” in the Soto sweepstakes.
So, even if the Red Sox don’t land the four-time All-Star, they might take some solace in the projection that he won’t be back in pinstripes.
