David Ortiz Gives Spicy Take On Red Sox’s Pursuit Of Juan Soto

The Red Sox could soon have a similar duo in their lineup to that of Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz.

Ortiz said it, not us.

Audacy’s Rob Bradford interviewed the three-time World Series champion this week and asked about Juan Soto, the free agent outfielder who reportedly met with Boston on Thursday. Ortiz’s take was rather spicy.

“I’m telling you. We would have Manny and Papi for the left side,” Ortiz said of the idea of Soto and current Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers, per Bradford.

Ortiz, who lives in the same building as Soto in their native Dominican Republic, clearly thinks highly of the 26-year-old.

“If there is a guy I would like to build a team around, it would have to be Juan Soto,” Ortiz said. “Juan Soto speaks Spanish, and he speaks English, so he can communicate with both American and Latin players. He has that good vibe. I tell you what, the Yankees went that far this year because of him. He changed everything for them there. When you have a top player doing the things that he does, everybody follows up. That’s what they did over there. At the end of the day, he has incredible makeup.”

Soto’s meeting with the Red Sox reportedly focused on the franchise’s success with Dominican-born players like Ortiz, Ramirez and Pedro Martinez, and their robust farm system. Boston did not make a formal offer, though that could come when he’s done meeting with the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and New York Mets.