The Red Sox apparently are not operating with a Juan Soto-or-nothing mindset.
That’s a good thing.
Boston is prioritizing Soto in MLB free agency, reportedly offering in excess of $600 million and in the neighborhood of $700 million. But the Red Sox also are keeping their secondary options open should Soto re-sign with the New York Yankees or agree to join the New York Mets.
The Yankees and Mets are viewed as the favorites to land Soto.
Should it play out that way, the Red Sox reportedly have kept their eye on free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Hernández has been linked to the Red Sox multiple times since the start of free agency and reportedly told those close to him he likes the idea of playing at Fenway Park.
“The Red Sox intend to pursue Teoscar Hernández if they don’t sign Juan Soto, per source,” MLB Network’s Mark Feinsand reported Sunday.
Feinsand noted that Boston is “believed to prefer” Hernández over fellow free-agent outfielder Anthony Santander.
The 30-year-old Santander spent the last eight years with the Baltimore Orioles. Santander, a MLB All-Star in 2024, is unlikely to re-sign in Baltimore given Tyler O’Neill just agreed to a deal with the Orioles. Boston reportedly opted not to offer O’Neill a deal this offseason due to it’s priority of Soto.
A two-time All-Star and three-time Silver Slugger, Hernández might not be an easy acquisition for the Red Sox. He reportedly would prefer to re-sign with the Los Angeles Dodgers after a successful 2024 campaign.
