MLB Insider Suggests ‘Bigger Issue’ With Red Sox’s Juan Soto Pursuit

Juan Soto can take the Red Sox back to postseason contention if Boston wins the sweepstakes for the top free agent on the market this offseason.

They’ve already had a “productive” meeting with Soto and pulling off the megadeal would energize the franchise and the fan base. The only potential “problem” with the Soto pursuit is the Red Sox have a far greater need to add impact arms to their starting rotation and bullpen to truly compete in 2025.

The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal emphasized that detail in Boston’s offseason agenda.

“The question I have for the Red Sox is, No. 1: They’re already deep in left-handed hitting,” Rosenthal said on “Fair Territory” Monday. “Now granted, there’s only one Juan Soto and he is unique among left-handed hitters. If you can get him, you figure out the rest. The bigger issue for the Red Sox though is they need starting pitching. This is a team that has a clear and obvious deficiency. That’s where it is. They’ve got all these position prospects coming up. They’re in really good shape overall.”

Rosenthal pointed to other big-ticket move ideas for the Red Sox, such as trading for White Sox starter Garrett Crochet or signing a left-handed ace such as Max Fried or Blake Snell.

“I can see that more logically than signing Juan Soto, unless you’re planning to do those other things, too,” Rosenthal added.