Potential Juan Soto Backup Plan Might Not Be Option For Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox missed out on Juan Soto, and one potential backup plan might not be on the table anymore.

Cody Bellinger and Seiya Suzuki entered the offseason with tricky spots on the Cubs. Chicago needs assets for a rebuild, and the outfielder pairing seemed like a logical choice from which to move on. That’s why when the New York Post’s Joel Sherman reported the Cubs were “determined” to move on from at least one of the two, Suzuki seemed like a fit for the Red Sox.

However, Suzuki’s agent Joel Wolfe spoke to reporters Tuesday and noted his client had a no-trade clause. The 30-year-old wasn’t against a trade, but there was “a pretty small universe” in terms of teams he’d be willing to drop his no-trade clause for, according to Wolfe, per MLB Trade Rumors.

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Chicago general manager Carter Hawkins also downplayed the rumors of his team’s intent on moving on from Suzuki.

“We don’t want to trade Seiya,” Hawkins told reporters, per Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune. “But, look, as (Wolfe) talked about there’s people interested in great players and so if teams come asking those are at least conversations that we’re willing to have. But I really don’t think much is going to come of it.”

Suzuki would have been an intriguing player for the Red Sox. He’s a right-handed bat who’s improved in MLB since he arrived in 2022. Boston also was interested in Suzuki before he signed a five-year, $85 million deal with the Cubs.

While Chicago didn’t outright say no, the chances of a Suzuki trade slimmed down further after Tuesday. The Red Sox still have outfield options like Teoscar Hernández to chase after, though.