Hard Feelings? Red Sox Coach Offers Reaction To Juan Soto Playing At Fenway

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox get caught in the frenzy that was Juan Soto’s free agency this past offseason.

The Red Sox entered the Soto sweepstakes and appeared to have a chance at the generational talent, but ultimately came out on the losing end to the New York Mets. Soto signed a mind-boggling and record 15-year, $765 million deal to join the Mets. Boston’s offer reportedly came in around $700 million.

Soto was at Fenway Park on Monday for the first time since inking that contract, drumming up thoughts for Red Sox fans about what could have been had he decided to come to Boston.

Those thoughts weren’t on the mind of Red Sox bench coach Ramón Vázquez, who took over for Alex Cora on Monday with the Red Sox skipper attending his daughter’s college graduation. But Vázquez did look for the Fenway Faithful to give Soto an unfriendly welcome after rejecting the Red Sox.

“It’s funny, I actually forgot there was a lot of that talk in the offseason,” Vázquez said prior to the game. “Great player, great hitter. Excited to have him here tonight. They can boo him and he can go 0-for-4 tonight. Really there’s not much to say about him. Great player. Good for them, they have. I really don’t want to mention much about it. He had enough attention this offseason and during the season.”

Soto got an earful from Yankees fans this past weekend with the two New York teams squaring off in the Subway Series in the Bronx. It was the first time Soto was back at Yankee Stadium after wearing pinstripes in 2024.

Soto hasn’t got off to a torrid start with the Mets, batting .246 with eight home runs and 20 RBIs in 46 games. There’s still plenty of time in the season for Soto to get hot, but the Red Sox have to hope it doesn’t come during their three-game series with the Mets.