There isn’t any world by which the Crimson Sox signing or trying to signal Juan Soto, one of many three baseball gamers on the planet, must be thought of a nasty factor.
Sox followers have turn out to be more and more hopeful that Boston may reel within the free-agent fish, and we’re nonetheless on the level the place whale could be a greater method of placing it.
That optimism stems from experiences this week that the Crimson Sox have earned a seat on the negotiating desk with Soto and his illustration. Boston will meet with the famous person outfield as a part of a reported group of suitors, together with the Blue Jays, Mets and Yankees.
The impression of signing Soto for the Crimson Sox could be not less than twofold. First, it will signify to the remainder of the league that Boston can nonetheless throw round its monetary weight. Signing Soto is more likely to require a dedication of $600 million to get into the dialog. Extra importantly, although, the workforce that indicators Soto will arguably get the very best participant within the league not named Shohei Ohtani … at simply 26 years outdated.
Soto is coming into his prime. He simply had the very best season of his profession, hitting 41 dwelling runs and driving in 109 runs with the Yankees in 2024. His 8.1 wins above substitute (FanGraphs) was the very best of his profession and was bested solely by Aaron Choose, Bobby Witt Jr. and Ohtani in 2024.
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Since Soto made his massive debut in 2018 — on the age of 19 — solely Choose, Mookie Betts, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez have been extra worthwhile. Choose simply had the very best season of his profession by that metric at age 32; Soto turns 32 in October of 2030.
But, not everyone seems to be bought on the thought of Soto patrolling the Fenway Park outfield for the following decade and a half.
” … in the actual world,” 98.5 The Sports activities Hub’s Tony Massarotti wrote this week, signing Soto could be silly.”
Silly!
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Mazz continued: “Wait … what? Sure, it will be silly. And you recognize why? As a result of if we’re going to function in actuality — I do know, buzzkill — the Crimson Sox presently have extra younger, left-handed hitting than anybody else,” he argued.
” … Pursuing Soto could be the equal of fattening up on bonbons whereas having a freezer freed from protein. It simply doesn’t make sense.”
Who had Mazz because the RFK Jr. of smart baseball spending and roster development on their sizzling range bingo card?
He’s not unsuitable, per se, to argue signing Soto would solely add to Boston’s offensive logjam from the left aspect. However with all due respect to anybody presently employed to play baseball at any stage of the Crimson Sox group … it’s Juan freaking Soto. You don’t cease your self from including that type of participant merely since you might need too many good offensive gamers — now or sooner or later. If he desires to be there, and also you’re prepared to spend that type of cash, you work all the pieces else after the actual fact.
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It might additionally simply be cool as hell.
Whereas Soto doesn’t fulfill Boston’s greatest want, which is pitching, the fallout from that type of deal may definitely open the door to buying arms. Once more, it’s one thing you determine whereas basking within the glory of signing the Dominican Mickey Mantle.
It’s most likely nonetheless a pipe dream. BetMGM is providing odds in choose markets on who will signal Soto. The Yankees are prohibitive favorites (prying him out of the Bronx is one other would-be optimistic for Boston) at -120. They’re adopted by the Mets (+150), Dodgers (+850) and even the Blue Jays at 12-1 have shorter odds than the 14-1 Crimson Sox.
So that is nonetheless unlikely, however that doesn’t imply it’s a nasty concept — and positively not “silly.”
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