Boston tossed itself into the sweepstakes race this offseason, joining clubs such as the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers. Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow, alongside several other team affiliates, underwent a three-hour meeting in November with Soto, making their initial pitch to the 26-year-old.
However, the Red Sox might not be done saying their piece just yet.
“The Red Sox have expressed interest in an additional meeting in which (Scott) Boras and Soto would identify a price that would get a deal done,” The Boston Globe’s Alex Speier reported Thursday. “It’s unknown if such a meeting has been or will be granted.”
Many believe Soto is poised to choose a landing spot before the end of next week’s MLB Winter Meetings and could make a decision prior to things kicking off in Dallas on Sunday. No teams have been ruled out so far. The projected contract figures could exceed the $600 million mark to make the offseason’s hottest commodity the highest-paid player in MLB — in annual salary since Shohei Ohtani deferred part of his $700 million Los Angeles Dodgers contract.
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If the previous signs such as Boston’s first meeting with Soto, its reported interest in other names around the league, or the campaign job done by David Ortiz, weren’t convincing enough, this meeting request should be. The Red Sox were rumored to be willing to open their checkbooks from the start of the offseason. In fact, Boras, Soto’s agent, was among those vouching for Boston in November.
“In our meetings, (the Red Sox) are definitely letting us know that ownership is committed, that they’re wanting to secure high-level players and that they’re definitely planning on being very active in the free agent market,” Boras said, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.
The next step — getting a thumbs up from Soto’s camp — would be a major leap and could seal the deal for Boston once and for all. That’s jumping the gun, but so far, nothing has suggested that the Red Sox aren’t willing to go the extra mile — or two — to put themselves in position to hang with the league’s big spenders.
It was said that Boston’s first meeting “impressed” Soto, so can the Red Sox top their first presentation and plate home the deciding handshake? The coming days should tell.
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