Red Sox’ betting odds to sign Juan Soto improve amid recent rumors
Boston is reportedly among a handful of teams who have made Soto a contract offer.
Chatter of Juan Soto signing with the Red Sox has seemingly risen on social media in recent days. Well, the recent odds have shown that Boston’s chances to sign Soto have improved.
The Red Sox are listed at +300 to be Soto’s next team at BetMGM Sportsbook, giving them the third-best odds to sign the star slugger. The Yankees remain the favorite to sign Soto, holding -110 odds to retain him. The Mets have the second-best odds of signing Soto (+150) while the Blue Jays and Dodgers also have +300 odds.
While Boston still trails both New York teams and has equal odds with two other ballclubs, its betting odds to sign Soto have vastly improved since the start of the offseason. The Red Sox were listed at +2500 at DraftKings Sportsbook to sign Soto in the first week of November, which was the eighth-highest among all teams at the time.
In the time since then, the Red Sox were reportedly among a handful of teams to meet with Soto in Southern California. That meeting was “productive” and Soto was “impressed” by Boston’s presentation, MassLive’s Sean McAdam previously reported.
The Red Sox were also just one of five known teams to have reportedly sent Soto a contract offer as well. Boston has also stepped up its efforts as it pitched Soto on his fit with the franchise (in terms of his fit at Fenway and with the ball club’s history), the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman reported earlier in the week.
More rumors emerged about the Red Sox’ pursuit of Soto on social media throughout the day on Thanksgiving, with some possibly signaling that he was leaning toward signing with Boston. However, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Soto remained unsigned.
Whenever Soto opts to sign, the expectation is that he’ll receive one of the largest deals, if not the largest deal, in MLB history. Most prognosticators projected Soto to sign a contract worth at least $600 million over a minimum of 12 years ahead of free agency.
Even though the Red Sox haven’t been too active relative to other big market teams in free agency over the last few offseasons. Some insiders expect the Red Sox to be more aggressive this offseason, though.
“The Red Sox, after sleepwalking through the past few offseasons, have finally arisen and awakened, and they’re acting like a big market team should,” The Athletic‘s and Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal said on “Fair Territory.”
Boston also has the cap room to add a contract like the one Soto is expected to receive this offseason. It had roughly $70 million in available cap space before reaching the first luxury tax threshold entering the offseason, The Boston Globe‘s Alex Speier projected in October.
Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy has also hinted at the possibility of the team entering the luxury tax, which the would likely have to do if they want to sign Soto and add pitching help.
“Even if it takes us over the [competitive balance tax],” Kennedy told The Boston Globe‘s Michael Silverman earlier in November on the Red Sox’ potential spending this offseason. “Our priority is 90 to 95 wins, and winning the American League East, and winning the division for multiple years.”
Signing Soto might not be a necessity for the Red Sox this offseason as they’re set to have an outfield logjam and are already a left-heavy lineup. But signing him would give them a talent they haven’t had since they traded Mookie Betts and would allow the team to be much more flexible with their roster.
Boston would probably like Soto to make his decision sooner rather than later as it still has other areas of the roster to address. There have been reports that have indicated Soto is likely to make his decision by MLB’s winter meetings, which will take place from Dec. 9-12, if not sooner.
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