by Soto, Snell, Kikuchi and early thoughts on MLB free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
Quick reaction to aggressive start to baseball free agency…
Juan Soto is going to be in the headlines until he signs, which many expect to happen during the MLB Winter Meetings Dec. 8-11. The Red Sox are one of five clubs reportedly in the running for his services alongside the Yankees, Mets, Dodgers and Blue Jays. Agent Scott Boras loves to dangle a “mystery team” in all of his big negotiations, so don’t be surprised if we also hear about the Phillies or Giants, whether they’re interested or not.
Unlike Boras’ big clients of the past such as Bryce Harper and Manny Machado, who signed during spring training, Soto won’t hold the deal all winter. He knows he’s looking at $600 million-plus, he knows he’ll likely surpass Shohei Ohtani’s current record value of $46 million per year, and he knows those deals are ready right now. There is no need to wait.
The Red Sox appear sincere in their interest and their pursuit could come down to two factors. Soto, who is already a World Series champion with the Nationals and a runner-up with the Yankees, prioritizes winning. The Red Sox are not in a strong negotiating position from that perspective, considering their only playoff berth in the last six years.
So either they’re going to have to blow him up financially, which won’t be an easy task with Mets owner Steve Cohen involved, or they’re going to have to sell him to be the face of the franchise as a worthy successor to David. Ortiz.
Soto considers the Red Sox Hall of Famer a mentor, and last year the two even became neighbors in the same building in the Dominican Republic. “When I talk to him, I feel like I’m talking to one of my children,” Ortiz said at the time.
The second path might actually be the best option for Boston, as it’s hard to imagine the Red Sox spending significantly more than everyone else on the roster. Soto wasn’t the guy for the Yankees (Aaron Judge), he wouldn’t be the guy for the Mets (Francisco Lindor), and he certainly wouldn’t be the guy for the Dodgers (Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman).
The Red Sox are a different story. With Rafael Devers more of a follower than a leader, Soto has the opportunity to step into the clubhouse and take ownership of the team. As he reflects on his legacy, restoring the Red Sox to glory could earn him an Ortiz-like place not only in franchise history, but in baseball history. …
Even though the Dodgers reportedly made Soto an offer and could never be excluded from any negotiations (remember when Ohtani was supposed to have boarded a plane to Toronto?), they always felt further away from his services .
That’s because they need to throw more than offense, and at some point even their resources are limited. So it’s no surprise that while the rest of the big spenders are stuck in Soto-mania, Los Angeles made a shrewd move on the pitching side, signing two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell to a contract of $182 over five years. million dollars.
By jumping into the Snell market, the Dodgers didn’t give the losers of the Soto sweepstakes a chance to turn to the most talented starter available. The move also marks a tacit acknowledgment from Boras that he blew the deal for Snell last winter, when the left-hander late signed with the Giants on an prove-it deal.
The agents’ dance over the next two weeks will hold their clients until Soto signs rather than capitalizing on a big offer now when the Mets and Co. are presumably sidelined. The Dodgers threaded that needle in Snell, who is undeniably talented, but also presents a major injury risk on top of all the other injury risks in their rotation. …
Remaining on the throwing side, the Angels surprised by signing left-hander Yusei Kikuchi to a three-year, $62 million contract. Another Boras client, Kikuchi was everywhere for six years spent largely with the Mariners and Blue Jays. Dealt to the Astros at the trade deadline this year, he went 5-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 starts to help Houston secure a playoff berth.
Kikuchi was considered a second-tier starter, and his signing helps clear up the market for veterans like Nathan Eovaldi and Walker Buehler. Along with Snell, he also suggests the starting market could move quickly once Soto signs.
That means Braves left-hander Max Fried and Orioles right-hander Corbin Burnes, both suspected targets of the Red Sox, could be on the move. If the Red Sox don’t land Soto, they should be ready to move aggressively to start.
