How Juan Soto Decision Could Determine Red Sox’s Next Move

When a perennial talent like Juan Soto hits the open market, teams scramble in search of their “what’s next?” move and the Boston Red Sox are no exception.

Boston’s front office has done its part, thus far, keeping the franchise in the mix of the biggest sweepstakes this offseason. Rumors have flooded the streets of Fenway Park ever since the Red Sox underwent their three-hour meeting with Soto and agent Scott Boras in November. Indications that Boston remains a legitimate candidate are alive and well, and whether or not Soto chooses to become the next Dominican-born star to sport a Red Sox uniform, a domino effect is expected to take place.

“The pursuit of other top free agents is expected to accelerate once Soto makes his decision, for the industry as a whole and the Red Sox specifically,” Alex Speier of The Boston Globe wrote. “If the Sox sign the outfielder, it would increase the likelihood that they’d seek to add a top-of-the-rotation starter via trade. If they fail to sign Soto, they could pivot to chasing after a free agent starter such as Max Fried or Corbin Burnes while pursuing other top position players on the market such as Willy Adames or Alex Bregman.”

Not surprising but certainly encouraging.

The Red Sox have begun their roster-tweaking pursuit by adding Justin Wilson and Aroldis Chapman to the bullpen, however, Boston is still yet to take a big swing. Last offseason that swing was Lucas Giolito, who signed a two-year, $38.5 million deal and suffered a season-ending elbow injury in spring training. This time, regardless of where Soto goes, the plan isn’t expected to be derailed based on the All-Star’s preference.

Sure, Soto is the must-have prize of the offseason but that doesn’t mean the Red Sox can’t bounce back in 2025 without him. It’ll increase the difficulty of chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s job, all while opening the door for a realm of possibilities to prevent Boston from suffering a fourth straight playoff miss next season.

Boston still has its bullpen, which blew the second-most saves in MLB last season (31) and its defense, which committed the second-most errors (115), to address. Then, of course, there’s the starting rotation, hampered immensely by injuries, and possibly replacing outfielder Tyler O’Neil, who led the Red Sox in home runs with 31. In other words, regardless if Soto shakes Boston’s hand or not, the job isn’t done in getting the roster back in contending shape by Opening Day.

Soto could make a decision by next week, before the start of Winter Meetings in Dallas.