Red Sox

“I do expect the Red Sox to be in.”

Juan Soto is expected to sign one of the largest contracts in sports history this offseason.

Not only is the slugging outfielder coming off an MVP-caliber season with the Yankees (41 home runs, 109 RBI, .419 OPB), but he’s also been consistent— averaging 35 home runs and 102 RBI per season over seven years.

Add in his winning pedigree (one World Series title with Washington in 2019) and his age (turned 26 on October 25), and it wouldn’t come as much of a surprise if Soto signs a mega-deal worth at least $500 million.

Such a steep price tag would seemingly put the Red Sox out of the running, given their quiet offseasons as of late.

But Jon Heyman of the New York Post believes that Red Sox fans shouldn’t rule their team out of the running for the superstar outfielder.

During a live chat run by Bleacher Report, the longtime MLB insider tabbed the Red Sox as one of six teams expected to be in the running for Soto this offseason, while also noting that another “mystery team” could be in the mix.

“I do expect the Red Sox to be in,” Heyman said. “I mean, they’ve been a little quiet and I hear a lot about that, but I believe the Red Sox will be in there, one of the six teams I do think will be in. … Mets, Yankees, Giants, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Dodgers. I’ve got a half dozen teams, I think, are in.  I’ve heard there’s a small market team. We’ll call that the mystery team for now. Is that likely to happen? Very unlikely.”

The Red Sox have several outfielders in place on their roster in Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and a potential star-in-waiting in Roman Anthony down in the minor leagues.

But a franchise fixture just entering his prime like Soto is the type of talent you move mountains for — with his presence even opening the door for Boston to trade players like Abreu or Duran in exchange for pitching help.

Of course, even if the Red Sox were to reverse course and jump into a bidding war for a player like Soto, it remains to be seen if Boston has the willingness to spend to the same degree as win-now teams with deep pockets like the Yankees and Mets.

Still, Heyman stressed that the Red Sox should not be viewed as a team that will sit on the sideline this offseason.

“I think it’s gonna be a shocker if he doesn’t go to the Mets, Yankees, Giants, Jays, Dodgers or Red Sox — and yes, I put the Red Sox in there, and I’m sorry if the fans are upset,” Heyman said. “I get it. I understand they haven’t really been a contender recently.”