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Red Sox Rumors: Juan Soto Tops MLB Free Agency ‘Want List’ Amid Yankees, Mets Buzz | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 26: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees watches his solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning during Game Two of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Harry Hoe/Getty Images

The Boston Red Sox are reportedly entering the sweepstakes to sign superstar outfielder Juan Soto in free agency this season.

According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Soto is “at the top of Boston’s wish list,” and the Red Sox will meet with Soto this week.

According to Mark W. Sanchez and Jon Heyman of the New York Postthe New York Yankees and New York Mets will also meet Soto. Passan also reported that the Toronto Blue Jays will be the first team to face Soto.

After spending parts of five seasons with the Washington Nationals and parts of two seasons with the San Diego Padres, Soto was traded to the Yankees last offseason when it became clear he planned to test free agency.

The Yanks acquired Soto without any guarantee that he would re-sign, but the decision paid off as he played a big role in New York reaching the World Series for the first time since 2009.

Soto slashed .288/.419/.569 with 41 home runs, 109 RBI and 128 runs scored in his lone season with the Yankees to date, which was good enough to make him a finalist for American League MVP.

As if that wasn’t enough, the four-time All-Star and one-time World Series champion showed he can still get it done in the postseason, hitting .327 with four home runs and nine RBI in 14 playoff games for the Yankees. .

Losing Soto to any team would be a major blow to the Yankees, as he and Aaron Judge formed perhaps the best one-two punch in baseball last season, but signing Soto to the Yanks’ biggest rival in the Red Sox would make the injury worse.

The Red Sox have some bragging rights over the Yankees since they’ve won two World Series since New York last won it all in 2009, but the past few years have been a huge struggle for Boston.

For the first time since 2010 to 2012, the Red Sox have missed the playoffs in three straight seasons, with records of 78-84, 78-84 and 81-81. To make matters worse, they have only made one playoff appearance in the last six seasons.

By comparison, the Yankees have made the playoffs seven times over the last eight seasons, although they have only reached the World Series once in that span.

Few things could accelerate Boston’s timeline and make it a playoff and World Series contender faster than signing a 26-year-old MVP-caliber hitter in Soto.

Adding Soto to the core of Rafael Devers and Jarren Duran would give the Red Sox one of the most dynamic lineups in baseball, and it might allow them to leapfrog the Yankees for AL East favorites honors .

Of course, pitching is still a big issue for the Red Sox, but Passan noted they want to be aggressive on that front as well.

Only so many teams can afford to pay Soto a contract that will likely rival the 19-year, $700 million deal Shohei Ohtani signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, and his market appears to be taking shape.

Along with the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox and Blue Jays, Heyman reported this week that the Dodgers, San Francisco Giants and two mystery teams are expected to meet with Soto in Southern California.

Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, told ESPN’s Jorge Castillo earlier this month that winning is Soto’s first priority.

The Red Sox haven’t won as much as the Yankees, Dodgers and Mets in recent years, but if their offer is strong enough, they might be able to convince him that he is the missing ingredient to a winning formula.