The Red Sox have put Juan Soto at the top of their free-agent list as the offseason hot stove begins to heat up.
Soto, one of the premier hitters in baseball, is the star of this offseason’s free-agent class. At just 26, Soto earned his fifth Silver Slugger award after hitting .288/.419/.569 with a career high 41 homers with the Yankees. He’s a four-time All-Star in seven seasons, as well as a Rookie of the Year winner in 2018.
Despite an expiring deal, Soto was acquired by the Yankees via trade last offseason. New York had missed the postseason for the first time since 2016, causing longtime executive Brian Cashman to go all in for Soto.
While the Yankees fell short of a World Series title, losing to the Dodgers in five games, Soto was a key reason why the club punched their first World Series ticket since 2009. Soto hit a two-out, three-run homer in the 10th inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to propel the Yankees to their matchup against Los Angeles.
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The Sox have yet to meet with Soto, but that is reportedly expected to happen this week following the Blue Jays’ pitch to the four-time All-Star. If the Sox were to land Soto, they would secure their best power hitter since David Ortiz.
The Red Sox’ aim this offseason is, in part, to create more balance in a lineup that is already heavy with lefthanders. Nevertheless the lefty-batting Soto is, of course, the exception, and he’s projected to earn a contract that could exceed $600 million.
Soto’s fit in the lineup would be almost seamless, helping to protect Rafael Devers, who has been without a true lineup bodyguard since the days of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, and J.D. Martinez. Soto’s profile would fit with the Red Sox approach, as well, largely built around controlling the strike zone and pummeling pitches in the zone.
Soto would be the epitome of that methodology, sporting a career 18.8 percent walk rate and just a 17.0 strikeout percentage (the league averages are 8.5% walk; 22.7% strikeout).
Gaining Soto would certainly come at a cost. The Sox have been tied to White Sox starter Garrett Crochet. If Boston does make that deal, it could come at the expense of a Red Sox starter and Wilyer Abreu, who won a Gold Glove in right field in his first full season in the big leagues.
The Sox have intimated on numerous occasions that they are ready to be in the hunt for marquee free agents. A deal for Soto would line up with those remarks.
Defense, particularly at Fenway Park, would be Soto’s only question mark. Although he was a Gold Glove finalist in right field, he finished the season with just 1 defensive runs saved. The eye test backed his play, with Soto on occasion misplaying balls in right field, and foes displaying a willingness to take the extra bag on him.
His lackluster defense forced Aaron Judge, a Gold Glove-caliber right fielder, to move to center in an attempt to hide Soto in right, with Yankee Stadium’s short porch.
Yet Fenway’s right field plays more like center and, internally, Soto is almost seen as a designated hitter.
However Soto remains a superstar, capable of reigniting the excitement around Jersey Street.
Julian McWilliams can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @byJulianMack.
