Report: Free agent Juan Soto at top of Red Sox ‘wanted list’ originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
The big prize in MLB free agency is New York Yankees star outfielder Juan Soto, and according to the latest reports, the Boston Red Sox will make an effort to sign him.
ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported Tuesday that Soto is at the top of the Red Sox’ “most wanted list.”
Passan also wrote that the Red Sox “had a meeting on the books with Soto this week, and like the Blue Jays, their aggressiveness extends to the pitching market as well.” The Yankees and New York Mets are Soto’s favorites, per Passan.
Soto is coming off an MVP season for the Yankees in which he batted .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a .419 on-base percentage. He’s also just 26 years old, and has an impressive postseason resume that includes a 2019 World Series title with the Washington Nationals and an American League pennant with the Yankees in 2024.
If a team were to commit half a billion dollars or more to one player, Soto would be near the top of the list, if not the top guy.
A case can be made that the Red Sox’s most glaring weakness that needs to be addressed this offseason is finding an ace for the starting rotation. But why not address this weakness and aggressively pursue Soto at the same time?
Soto is a generational star who will immediately improve the Red Sox lineup in a big way. He hits for average, hits for power, and is consistently on base while holding. The Red Sox need more star power, and Soto is the definition of a box office hit.
Since winning the World Series in 2018, the Red Sox have reached the playoffs just once (2021). Ownership must make a strong commitment to improving the roster in a profound way, whether that’s by spending big in free agency or trading prospects for established talent (or both routes).
Soto is the best player available and the Red Sox should give him a big game. But even if they strike Soto, the front office must continue to be aggressive in finding significant roster upgrades.
