Exec’s Report On Juan Soto Very Bad Sign For Red Sox’s Pursuit
The list of MLB teams involved in the Juan Soto sweepstakes reportedly is growing, but the push to sign the star free agent might actually be a two-horse race.
Soto, as he said he would do after the 2024 World Series, is seemingly looking into all his options. The upper-echelon outfielder reportedly met with four teams as of Monday, and according to multiple reports, the reigning World Series champions will spend some time with Soto as well.
But when the time comes for Soto to really start thinking about where he wants to play for the foreseeable future, a pair of clubs reportedly will command the lion’s share of his attention.
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“It’s the Yankees or the Mets,” an American League executive told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. “He knows the Yankees well after spending a year there, and Steve Cohen has enough money to give him whatever he wants if he decides he wants him badly enough. It’s tough for me to see Soto winding up anywhere else.”
Those remarks obviously aren’t encouraging for Red Sox fans hoping to see Soto make Fenway Park home. Boston reportedly met last week with four-time All-Star, who inquired about what the storied club could offer besides money.
That curiosity might have been nothing more than due diligence, though. No one should be surprised if Soto remains in the Big Apple, whether it be a reunion with the Yankees or starting a new chapter with the Mets.
Ryan Preece To Join RFK Racing With New NASCAR Cup Series Sponsor
Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing will have a new look in the 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season.
RFK Racing announced Tuesday that Ryan Preece will join the team. The Connecticut native will drive the No. 60 Ford Mustang. It was also announced that Kroger will move its primary sponsorship to RFK Racing.
“The Kroger Racing program and collaboration with participating brands has been a successful staple in Kroger’s portfolio for more than a decade,” Kroger vice president of grocery Erin Sanchez said in a press release. “We’re very excited to be teaming up with RFK Racing and know having three drivers as members of the Kroger Racing Family will be an added benefit for all our brand sponsors involved in the program. The opportunity to utilize multiple drivers in their marketing strategies both in our stores and within their merchandising initiatives is something we’re all looking forward to with the start of the 2025 season.”
Brad Keselowski and Chris Buescher will continue to pilot the No. 6 Mustang and No. 17 Mustang, respectively. And Kroger joins BuildSubmarines.com, Castrol and Fastenal the additional sponsors for the cars.
Preece was with Stewart–Haas Racing since 2023 and tallied one top-five and five top-10 finishes in 2024. The 34-year-old became a free agent after Stewart–Haas Racing announced it would shut down NASCAR operations at the end of this season.
The 2025 NASCAR Cup Series season begins with The Clash at Bowman-Gray Stadium on Feb. 2 before the Daytona 500 on Feb. 16.
MLB Rumors: Red Sox ‘Had Conversations’ With Cy Young Winner
The Red Sox are searching for a front-line starter and could potentially acquire one at a discount.
Boston fans are solely focused on Juan Soto, but pitching is the club’s primary need. The Red Sox obviously could both sign Soto and acquire the arms necessary to upgrade the pitching staff, and they have options in free agency and the trade market.
One name who potentially could be on Boston’s radar is Shane Bieber. The 2020 American League Cy Young winner only pitched two games in the 2024 season before undergoing Tommy John surgery. The right-hander’s status for 2025 Opening Day is up in the air, but an MLB insider noted there still is a market for Bieber.
“I could see the Red Sox being in play there as well,” FanSided’s Robert Murray said on “The Baseball Insiders” podcast Monday. “I know they have had some conversations with Bieber’s representation, so we’ll see there. Bieber does have a good market so far.”
Bieber is likely to sign a one or two-year deal because of his injury history. If he can recover well from Tommy John surgery, that would give the Red Sox a quality starter to help bolster the rotation.
The veteran pitcher’s market could depend on how the dominoes fall with the other arms in the market like Corbin Burnes and Max Fried, so Bieber will be a name to keep an eye on once things start to heat up in free agency.
MLB Fans Losing Their Minds Over Juan Soto Sweepstakes Rumor
MLB’s richest reportedly is looking into becoming even richer.
Juan Soto made his foray into free agency last week and wasted no time meeting with interested clubs. According to multiple reports, the generational outfielder has spoken with the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and New York Mets.
Those apparently aren’t the only clubs making a run at Soto, though.
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MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand on Monday reported the Los Angeles Dodgers are set to meet with the four-time All-Star. ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez provided additional insight on the report, explaining how it would be “absurd” for the World Series champions to sign Soto following their spending spree last offseason, but “Shohei Ohtani’s first year in LA blew away all their financial projections.” The Dodgers also could use some outfield help.
Virtually all baseball fans besides folks in Chavez Ravine were incensed by the Soto-Dodgers report. You can check out the avalanche of reactions by clicking the link here.
While Dave Roberts and company have all of the resources to make a compelling pitch to the 26-year-old, MLB fans might not need to be too worried about the possibility of Soto teaming up with Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman. An American League executive told Feinsand that the Soto sweepstakes will come down to the pair of New York clubs.
What Juan Soto Reportedly Asked Red Sox In Free-Agent Meeting
It apparently is going to take more than money for any of the Juan Soto suitors to sign the superstar outfielder.
The Soto sweepstakes kicked off last week, and unsurprisingly, multiple big spenders are involved. The four-time All-Star reportedly has already met with the Boston Red Sox, the New York Mets and the New York Yankees, and according to multiple reports, he’s going to talk shop with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers as well.
Money obviously will do a great deal of the talking in these negotiations, but as MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand outlined in a column published Monday, Soto will be looking for more than dollar signs.
“All of Soto’s meetings have included representatives from club ownership, along with front-office executives and the team’s manager, sources said,” Feinsand wrote. “Convincing Soto that their team represents his best landing spot is about more than money; according to Sean McAdam of MassLive, Soto asked the Red Sox about the club’s commitment to winning, its ballpark and facilities, and its process of evaluating players.”
It would be borderline negligent for Soto not to ask those questions. The 26-year-old’s next contract is projected to extend over a decade, so he and his team should leave no stone unturned as they try to determine where they want to hitch their wagon for the foreseeable future.
As for when Soto could sign on the dotted line, “the feeling around the industry” is the Dominican phenom could make his decision before the Winter Meetings begin Dec. 9.
Five Former Red Sox Players Made 2025 Baseball Hall Of Fame Ballot
The Boston Red Sox could see a few more stars from their prior years of glory earn baseball enshrinement in a few months.
MLB released the 2025 Hall of Fame ballot Monday with five former Red Sox players on it. Dustin Pedroia headlines the list as a staple player of Boston’s 21st-century resurgence across the sport, growing from a talented rookie to an unforgettable veteran voice of the clubhouse.
Legends such as outfielder Manny Ramirez are joined by infielder and slugger Hanley Ramirez along with the brief Boston tenures of infielder Ian Kinsler and reliever Billy Wagner.
The 2025 class will be announced on MLB Network on Tues. Jan. 21, 2025.
Here’s the full statistical case for each Boston representative on the 2025 ballot.
Dustin Pedroia
Career: 14 MLB seasons, .299/.365/.439, .805 OPS, 140 HR, 725 RBI, 51.9 WAR
Red Sox Career: Whole career with Red Sox
Accolades: 2008 AL MVP, 2007 AL Rookie of the Year, 2008 Silver Slugger, 2007 and 2013 World Series champion (injured for 2018 World Series title), four-time Gold Glove
Ian Kinsler
Career: 14 MLB seasons, ,269/.337/.440, .777 OPS, 257 HR, 909 RBI, 54.1 WAR
Red Sox Career: 37 G, .242/.294/.311, .604 OPS, 1 HR, 16 RBI, -0.1 WAR
Accolades: 2018 World Series champion, four-time All-Star, two-time Gold Glove
Hanley Ramirez
Career: 15 MLB Seasons, .289/.360/.486, .847 OPS, 271 HR, 917 RBI, 38.0 WAR
Red Sox Career: Five MLB Seasons, .260/.326/.450, .776 OPS, 78 HR, 255 RBI, 1.6 WAR
Accolades: 2006 NL Rookie of the Year, three-time All-Star, two-time Silver Slugger, 2009 NL Batting Champion
Manny Ramirez
Career: 19 MLB seasons, .312/.411/.585, .996 OPS, 555 HR, 1,831 RBI, 69.3 WAR
Red Sox Career: Eight MLB seasons, .312/.411/.588, .999 OPS, 274 HR, 868 RBI, 33.2 WAR
Accolades: 2004 and 2007 World Series champion, 2004 World Series MVP, 12-time All-Star, nine-time Silver Slugger, 2002 AL Batting Champion
Billy Wagner
Career: 16 MLB seasons, 47-40, 2.31 ERA, 853 G, 903 IP, 1196 K, 2.73 FIP, 11.9 K/9
Red Sox Career: One MLB season, 1-1, 1.98 ERA, 15 G, 13.2 IP, 22 K, 2.58 FIP, 14.5 K/9
Accolades: seven-time All-Star
Bruins Notes: Boston’s Struggles Continue In Loss Vs. Blue Jackets
The Boston Bruins are 1-2-2 in their last five games and have been outscored 20-9 in those contests.
The Black and Gold’s struggles continued with another brutal showing, as they lost a 5-1 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night at TD Garden. The Bruins outshot the Blue Jackets 30-29 in the contest, but once again, special teams were a glaring factor in the defeat.
The Bruins went 1-for-6 on the power play and surrendered two shorthanded goals while on the man advantage. Boston’s captain Brad Marchand expressed frustration when he spoke with the media following the game.
“Definitely, not happy with the way things are going,” Marchand said. “We need to be much better in a lot of areas. Mistakes are going to happen in the game, and we’re just compounding them. It’s not acceptable to continue to have the same mistakes and do the same things over and over. That won’t bring us success. We need to be a lot better.”
A couple of the biggest challenges the Bruins have faced this season have been starting on time and competing for the full 60 minutes.
“I think it starts with our compete level,” Marchand explained. “I think it always starts with your complete level, first and foremost. I think that in this league, you have to have the highest compete level every night if you want to be a good team. We have it through periods of the game. We have it at times, and when we do, we’re really good.
“But then we get in these other moments of the game, and we think we’re a skilled team, and we want to play through the middle of the ice, and that’s not us. We have to understand what our identity is and play to that, and we’ve yet to do that really for a full 60-minute game. We need to be a lot better. It’s costing us a lot of games and a lot of points right now.”
While the struggles in Boston are new for this team, Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery said when he was the coach of the Dallas Stars, the team had gone 1-7-1 to start the season and then turned it around to go 17-4-4 after that.
“There’s been a couple of wins, that I thought maybe we were turning the page,” Montgomery told reporters after the loss. “That hasn’t transpired. What you want in the first 20 games, you don’t want to be out of the playoff race. We’re not out of the playoff race.”
At 8-9-3, the Bruins hold the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference and are tied with the Tampa Bay Lightning in points (19) in the Atlantic Division.
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Here are more notes from Monday’s Bruins-Blue Jackets game:
— David Pastrnak was held without a shot on goal for the first time this season. The Bruins sniper had three of his chances blocked across 17:56 minutes of ice time.
— Jeremy Swayman made 24 saves in the loss and gave up two shorthanded goals in the contest. He acknowledges he has not played to his standard after the game.
“I know a lot of veteran guys that I’ve looked up to and followed have been through ups and downs,” Swayman said. “Right now, I’m in one, and I’m going to do whatever I can to get out of it, and I know it’s going to be a really good feeling. … I know how to get out of it, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
— Jeffery Viel made his Bruins debut against the Blue Jackets. The veteran forward dropped the gloves with Mathieu Olivier on his very first shift and drew two penalties in the game. he finished with 8:29 minutes of ice time.
— The Bruins will look to get back in the win column as they continue their three-game homestand against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. You can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
Bruins’ Jeremy Swayman Acknowledges Failure To Meet Standard
Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman is 1-3-1 in his last five games and has allowed 20 goals in those contests.
The Boston netminder didn’t shy away from taking responsibility when he spoke with the media following the Bruins’ deflating loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday night.
“There’s habits that I can do better at. There’s experiences that I can use to my advantage,” Swayman said, per team-provided audio. “But, tough times don’t last, tough people do. So, that’s my mindset, tomorrow’s a new day. I’m going to win it.”
Even though Swayman missed all of the Bruins’ training camp, the 25-year-old Alaskan native doesn’t believe that’s why he’s struggled to begin the 2024-25 campaign.
“I think I’ve had enough time now to adapt and get back to things,” Swayman said. “I think the biggest thing I lost out on was this group, and I’m really trying to engulf just being in a room again and being a leader, and I want my play to speak for that. I need to step up, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
Swayman added he doesn’t feel he is putting unnecessary pressure on himself despite not performing at his best.
“I think pressure is the wrong word. I think standard is the word I would use, and the standard that I have myself held to is not met right now,” Swayman explained. “And, again, that’s going to happen in our careers.
“I know a lot of veteran guys that I’ve looked up to and followed have been through the ups and downs. Right now, I’m in one, and I’m going to do whatever I can to get out of it, and I know it’s going to be a really good feeling. … I know how to get out of it, and that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
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.
Why MLB Insider Believes Red Sox Fans Won’t Be Disappointed This Offseason
The Boston Red Sox, by all accounts, sound ready to turn in an offseason for the ages to overhaul elite talent in an effort to break a three-year postseason drought.
That’s sparked early reports throughout the start of the offseason that Boston is ready for impact moves.
Is that signing Juan Soto? Is it signing an ace? What about trading for a young starting pitcher?
Whatever the move is, MLB insiders such as The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal feel like there will be something for the Red Sox this winter.
“I think they’re actually serious this time,” Rosenthal shared on “Foul Territory” Monday. “… They’re in a good place right now. They have a farm system that is really starting to produce some quality players. They have this ability, because of those players, to extend themselves financially with others. They have that ability anyway, of course. Going forward, they know they’re in a position right now where in the AL East, while they were .500 last year, they should be that much better next year.”
The Red Sox are three weeks out from MLB’s Winter Meetings in Dallas, Texas. Moves should truly pick up by then, leaving the chance to see what Boston truly has in store to enhance the roster for the 2025 season and beyond.
“I can see the Red Sox being very active on the trade and free agent fronts,” Rosenthal added. “
One Big Takeaway From Bruins’ Deflating Loss Vs. Blue Jackets
The Bruins’ woes continued Monday with a 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets at TD Garden.
Boston’s trip to the loss column dropped the team to 8-9-3 on the season, while Columbus improved to 7-9-2, with just their second road win of the season.
Coupled with no offensive momentum, the Bruins didn’t do themselves any justice by coughing up two critical shorthanded tallies in the first and third periods of the game.
The Bruins had their chances on the power play — six opportunities, to be exact, but were only able to capitalize on one when Charlie Coyle potted his fourth goal of the season in the second period to cut Boston’s deficit to 3-1.
The Bruins’ power play may have struggled, but the penalty kill was perfect, keeping the Blue Jackets off the board on their two-man advantages.
The Blue Jackets lit the lamp three times in the opening frame and added two more tallies in the third, bouncing back from their 5-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.
Columbus goalie Elvis Merzlikins was outstanding for the Blue Jackets, stopping 29 of 30 Bruins shots for his fourth win of the season.
Jeremy Swayman didn’t have a good night in net for the Bruins. He allowed five goals on 29 shots for a .828 save percentage. Swayman fell to 5-7-2 on the season.
The Bruins will look to get back in the win column as they continue their three-game homestand against the Utah Hockey Club on Thursday night. Puck drop from TD Garden is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. You can watch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
NFL Insider Details ‘Highly Unlikely’ Scenario For Bill Belichick
Bill Belichick remains ready to take his next NFL coaching job in his year off the sidelines after 24 historic seasons with the New England Patriots.
He just needs an enticing vacancy.
The 2-9 Jacksonville Jaguars could be the destination if the franchise moves on from head coach Doug Pederson, who defeated Belichick and the Patriots with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LII.
They haven’t played up to the level through injuries and inconsistency this season, but Belichick would have talent in Jacksonville centered around fourth-year quarterback Trevor Lawrence. The job could appeal to Belichick, but organizational power appears to remain a desire and a potential obstacle in any negotiations.
The Athletic’s Dianna Russini added insight to that detail.
“I’m told it’s highly unlikely that a partnership with GM Trent Baalke would take place, per sources,” Russini shared on X Monday.
Wanting total control kept Belichick away from the Atlanta Falcons. Could that be the case again if the Jaguars job opens?
How Patriots’ Jerod Mayo Felt About Christian Barmore’s Debut
Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore made his season debut for New England on Sunday after missing the first 10 weeks of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots in July.
Barmore admitted he’s still working on getting into game shape when he spoke with reporters following the Patriots’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Gillette Stadium.
The fourth-year veteran was primarily limited to third-down situations where he registered three tackles. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo noted one area Barmore needs to work on going forward.
“I would say first and foremost, it was just good to see him out there,” Mayo told reporters, per team-provided video. “There are definitely things we have to work on, and I would say the number one thing is just pad level. It was really his first time being in pads, and I look forward to seeing him continue to progress.”
Barmore was thankful to be back on the field given his health struggles to begin the season.
“The blood clots are not a joke,” Barmore said after the Patriots game on Sunday. “I had a real bad shortness of breath, and it messed with me, like a lot. … My teammates really supported the hell out of me. I love them all, and coaches and all. I told myself I was not gonna lose that battle. So, I told myself, I’m gonna keep fighting and keep going.”
Bruins Stanley Cup Champion Takes Off Skates To Coach Alumni Game
The Boston Bruins Alumni assembled a stacked lineup of Stanley Cup champions for their upcoming battle with the Warrior For Life Fund on Dec. 7.
Members of the 2011 title team will be reunited for the Nate Hardy Memorial game at Warrior Ice Arena, and one crucial member of the Cup-winning team will serve as the coach — Tim Thomas.
Don’t expect the 2011 Vezina and Conn Smythe winner to actually coach given the caliber of players that will be suiting up.
“I’m going to have to wing it when I get there,” Thomas told NESN.com. “I’m going to have to see if they get it all sorted out and I’m on the sidelines or whether I need to give some structure or not.
“I haven’t thought through a coaching lens ever in my career. I was always a player, right? And I haven’t done any coaching since I stopped playing. From my perspective, hopefully I do a good enough job for (Bruins Alumni president Frank Simonetti) because I don’t know for sure what my responsibilities are.”
If Thomas does have to set the lines, he will have the opportunity to reunite two-thirds of the Bruins’ top line from the 2011 postseason run with Patrice Bergeron and Mark Recchi both suiting up, as well as the Merlot line with Shawn Thornton and Gregory Campbell.
Although the lineup features two goaltenders — Thomas and Tuukka Rask, from the 2011 team, neither will be between the pipes for the Bruins.
“You get enough rubber thrown your way over decades like me and Tuukka did in our careers,” Thomas said. “It doesn’t seem like as much fun as maybe throwing some rubber at some other guy; I don’t want to say dummy, some other target in the net rather than us.”
Bruins Alumni president Frank Simonetti said he is hoping to have Cleon Daskalaskis in the crease for the Dec. 7 contest.
“Cleon Daskalaskis is really the only Bruin alumni that still wants to play net,” Simonetti told NESN.com. Everybody wants to play out. … .Cleon will be in net, at least for the first half (of the game).”
Thomas wasn’t shocked the 62-year-old Boston native would be willing to man the pipes for the Alumni group, but he did take the opportunity to take a jab at the retired netminder.
“Man, I might have to do some coaching to win,” Thomas laughed. “I’m kidding. I know Cleon very well so I can make that joke about him.
“Cleon Daskalaskis, he likes to go back and play goalie,” Thomas said. “But he didn’t play as long as us. He didn’t get hit in the head as many times as we did.”
Why Red Sox Should Make Franchise-Altering Push For Juan Soto
Juan Soto will substantially change an MLB franchise’s future this winter with his free-agent decision and expected gargantuan contract. Why shouldn’t that team be the Boston Red Sox?
Boston emerged as one of four teams that met with Soto over the last week with reports pointing to a solid start to the Red Sox’s pursuit of the superstar. Boston does have real competition with the Toronto Blue Jays, the New York Yankees and the New York Mets. Their pitch and potential offer have to really get through to Soto.
The Red Sox should be doing everything in their power to make that happen and bring Soto to Boston.
Are there bigger positional needs this winter for the Red Sox? Absolutely. Boston needs more arms to return to the postseason. With that said, adding a top-five player in the sport to rise as the face of the franchise is an opportunity that cannot be wasted.
Here’s some more reasoning as to why the Red Sox should dish out a historic deal to Soto.
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PRODUCTION
Soto is the best all-around hitter in baseball. Aaron Judge may hit more home runs, but Soto is a well-rounded threat unlike any other in baseball. He just hit a career-high 41 home runs in his potential lone season with the Yankees, just in case you needed a reminder that he’s probably yet to hit his peak.
That’s a terrifying thought for pitchers around the game.
He has every accolade you can think of. All-Star. World Series champion. Silver Slugger. Home Run Derby champion. Batting title. The list goes on and he elevates every lineup he’s in.
The Washington Nationals, the San Diego Padres and the Yankees all reached the postseason with Soto on the roster after monster seasons. He’s no stranger to meeting the moment in October either as a .281 lifetime hitter in the postseason with 11 home runs and a .927 OPS in 43 games.
Placing Soto in the Red Sox lineup, albeit with several other left-handed bats (deal with it), gives them an argument for the scariest top of the lineup in baseball.
ROSTER/CLUBHOUSE FIT
The Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed hitting outfielders both at the MLB level and in the farm system. Normally, that would make adding Soto insensible.
He’s that good that he’s the exception, which would also open the Red Sox up to creative avenues to pursue necessary pitching additions.
Soto fits in as a corner outfielder with incredible lineup production among a number of talented young players who play a dynamic style for the Red Sox.
STAR POWER
Names do matter in big markets. Maybe that’s not always the case, but teams win with stars in the modern game. Under-the-radar finds can push a team across the finish line, but foundations are built with stars.
Soto is the perfect young face for any franchise looking to win and solidify itself as a staple contender for a World Series title year in and year out. Jarren Duran and Triston Casas are not at that level. Rafael Devers performs like that star but does not want to be the spotlight player or the lead voice in the clubhouse.
That’s exactly where Soto fits in. He can be the star that David Ortiz shined as over the last elite era of Red Sox baseball. Maybe even bigger?
Blue Jackets Limping Into Matchup Against Bruins
The Columbus Blue Jackets are limping into their matchup against the Boston Bruins Monday night as they hold a 1-6-1 record in November so far.
For more, check out the video above from “Bruins Face-Off Live,” presented by Echostor Technology.
Former Bruin To Make Appearance On ‘Unobstructed Views’
The Boston Bruins host the Columbus Blue Jackets Monday night and there’s a new way to watch the B’s.
‘Unobstructed Views’ is available on NESN+ and NESN 360 with special guest Zdeno Chara.
For more, check out the video above for the Moment of the Week, presented by Awaken 180 Weightloss.
How Many Years Should Red Sox Offer Juan Soto In Potential Megamove?
Juan Soto remains the top free agent on the market and the Red Sox are absolutely in the mix as one of four teams that met with the 26-year-old to start the offseason.
Soto is going to get a monumental contract that will easily be for longer than a decade and approach, or exceed, $600 million. So, if the Red Sox end up making a competitive offer to Soto, how many years should they offer in the deal?
Whatever that answer is, NESN’s George Balekji and Travis Thomas emphasized why Soto makes sense on the latest episode of “Boston Has Entered The Chat.”
“Whatever the salary is, whatever the length of the contract is, I keep coming back to it is worth it because at 26 years old, he’s not 30; at 26 years old, you’re getting the best hitter in baseball,” Balekji said. “… He is the star of the biggest moments in baseball. He would step in and be a leader for the Red Sox. He’d be the face of the team as well. He would be the man.”
You can catch the full segment from this episode of “Boston Has Entered The Chat” on YouTube or on Spotify.
Patriots Defender Open To More Offensive Snaps (Again)
FOXBORO, Mass. — Marcus Jones marked the peak of the versatility Bill Belichick loved in his players with the New England Patriots. That’s a huge reason the legendary former head coach drafted Jones in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Houston product immediately stepped in that season and made an impact when he scored a touchdown in all three phases of the game. He returned an interception for a touchdown on Christmas Eve against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had the game-winning touchdown to beat the New York Jets at home on a last-second punt return. He also caught an RPO screen and took that one to the house against the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football.
The Patriots cornerback primarily sticks to his defensive duties these days after missing the majority of the 2023 campaign with an injury. He did show Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams he could still help the offense when offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt called his number for a five-yard carry.
“It was great,” Jones said in the home locker room at Gillette Stadium. “The last time I took an offensive snap was 2022. It was good to be back out there.”
Jones credited the coaching staff for keeping him prepared in all three phases and giving him a heads-up that he may be called upon as a playmaker on offense again. If that’s the case, the third-year Patriot will stay ready.
“I’m definitely open to it,” Jones shared. “Mainly defense, but I’m definitely open to it.”
Jones could see that expanded role down the stretch, though his focus remains on stacking tallies in the win column for the Patriots.
“It was great, but at the end of the day, I was always care about the W,” Jones said. “We didn’t get that. We want to go ahead and make sure we can get a W next week.”
Ex-Patriots Wideout Reportedly Signs With Contender Days After Release
Tyquan Thornton is about to run on some much greener grass.
Thornton is signing with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad, according to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport. The 2022 second-round pick was released by the New England Patriots on Saturday.
It marked the end of Thornton’s tenure in Foxboro, Mass., as the speedy receiver was a healthy scratch four times this season. Thornton played 28 games during his three seasons with the Patriots. He concluded with 39 catches on 76 targets for 385 yards and two touchdowns.
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New England selected Thornton two picks before Pittsburgh Steelers wideout George Pickens, who has 163 catches for 2,669 yards and 11 touchdowns in 44 games.
Thornton lands in a better situation than any he had in New England. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes have made a habit of turning even the most pedestrian wideouts into productive pass-catchers.
There are plenty of bodies in Kansas City’s receiver room, including a depth chart headlined by DeAndre Hopkins, Xavier Worthy and JuJu Smith-Schuster. Justin Watson and Mecole Hardman are depth options on the 53-man while Rashee Rice and Skyy Moore are on injured reserve.
Patriots fans shouldn’t be surprised if Thornton makes a meaningful catch during a playoff game, though.
Could Patriots Reunite With Versatile Defender After Release?
A former Patriots defensive back reached the open market on the same day New England tweaked its cornerback depth chart.
Could the two reunite? Crazier things have happened.
The Houston Texans announced Monday they waived cornerback Myles Bryant and running back J.J. Taylor. Both Bryant and Taylor started their respective careers in Foxboro, Mass.
Bryant signed a one-year deal with the Texans last offseason after he spent his first four seasons in New England. Bryant played 55 games for Bill Belichick’s Patriots and caught on as an undrafted free agent given his versatility in the secondary.
Taylor played his first three NFL seasons with the Patriots before he was released ahead of the roster cutdown in 2023. The 5-foot-6, 185-pound Taylor spent the 2023 campaign on Houston’s practice squad.
Bryant would make sense for the Patriots, especially given the defense’s thinning depth at safety. While Bryant primarily played in the slot (1,361 snaps) during his tenure with the Patriots, he also saw 231 snaps at free safety, per Pro Football Focus.
New England’s safety depth took a hit with Jabrill Peppers away from the team and Kyle Dugger dealing with injury. Dugger returned from a three-game absence Sunday. Hybrid defender Marte Mapu and undrafted rookie Dell Pettus currently headline the depth chart at free safety.
As for the Patriots, New England on Monday released cornerback Marco Wilson and activated Alex Austin to their 53-man roster.