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Free agent slugger Juan Soto

The Boston Red Sox have been reluctant to pursue big-name free agents over the past six MLB offseasons, but the club now “appears willing” to offer “the largest offer in franchise history” in an attempt all out to attract Juan Soto, according to a report of The Boston Globe. That offer, according to baseball industry experts, could range from a minimum of $430 million to a maximum of $700 million.

Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, is reportedly looking to make a deal at the higher end of that spectrum for Soto. But other factors often come into play in free agent negotiations that could lead Soto to settle for a lower total value. For example, in a recently discovered 2021 interview, Soto revealed that the Red Sox were his favorite team growing up in the Dominican Republic, due to their history of building their team around Dominican stars.

It’s not yet clear whether this story will factor into Soto’s decision. Soto, according to A SI.com reporthas met two other teams in addition to the Red Sox so far. THE 26 years old, four-time All Star met with the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday and the New York Mets on Saturday, according to the report. The New York Yankees — the team Soto played the 2024 season for on a one-year deal worth $31 million — are scheduled to meet with Soto possibly as soon as Monday.

What was said, or whether money was offered at any of these meetings, has not been confirmed. However, according to a report in local Boston media, the topic of money or contract terms was not mentioned during Soto’s meeting with Red Sox top brass.

Soto in no rush to make a decision

Either way, Soto doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to make a decision. Boras told ESPN.com that his client has not set a deadline for his decision on where he will play next season and, likely, for the rest of his career. Based on recent high-profile signings, the length of the contract Soto signed will be at least 10 years.

However, internal MLB speculation suggests that baseball’s winter meetings appear to be a likely target date to complete a deal with Soto. These meetings this year are scheduled from December 8 to December 11in Dallas, Texas. The Winter Meetings bring together under one roof each year the top executives of all Major League franchises, as well as agents and even the players themselves. As a result, this is where many trades and signings are finalized.

Before the Red Sox withdrew from the high-end free agent market after the team fired 2018 World Series-winning vice president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski, the club had a rich history of engagement top free agents in mega-deals. This was true both under the current ownership of Fenway Sports Group, led by billionaire financial trader John Henry, and under a previous owner.

The team former owner, Tom Yawkey – an oil and mining heir – purchased the team in 1933. Yawkey died in 1976, but his family estate continued to own and operate the Red Sox until Henry’s group purchased the club after the season 2001.

Soto’s offer could double previous historic Red Sox contract

It was under the previous owner that, during the 2000 Winter MeetingsThe Red Sox made history by signing former Cleveland power hitter Manny Ramirez to an eight-year, $160 million contract. With Alex Rodriguez signing a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Yankees during these winter meetings, Ramirez became one of the first two players in MLB history to sign a 20-year contract. million dollars per year.

Adjusted for inflationthe Ramirez contract would be worth just under $300 million today — meaning the offer the Red Sox “appear ready” to make could double the Ramirez contract in real dollars.

Jonathan Vankin JONATHAN VANKIN is an award-winning journalist and writer who now covers baseball and other sports for Heavy.com. He twice won the New England Press Association awards for sports feature writing. Vankin is also the author of five non-fiction books on a variety of subjects, as well as nine graphic novels, most recently “Last of the Gladiators” published by Dynamite Entertainment. Learn more about Jonathan Vankin