MLB Rumors: Red Sox Rival Could Play ‘Spoiler’ In Juan Soto Sweepstakes

Unsurprisingly, the Boston Red Sox aren’t the only team looking to get a seat at the negotiating table across free agent outfielder Juan Soto.

In fact, the Red Sox aren’t the only team in the American League East interested in having the four-time All-Star, fresh off a World Series appearance with the New York Yankees, in their respective lineup come Opening Day in 2025.

“The (Toronto Blue) Jays are viewed by industry sources as a viable obstacle to the favored Yankees and (New York) Mets, thanks to a well-heeled ownership and strong incentive to improve coming off the abject disappointment of 2024,” per Jon Heyman of the New York Post. “They’ve had difficulty luring superstars, presumably due to geography and finances (high taxes and the Canadian dollar complicate things). But word is they are highly motivated and sources suggest they plan to be in big.”

Toronto is in desperate need of an offensive boost, fresh off the franchise’s 74-88 campaign last season which marked the fifth postseason miss in the past eight seasons. The Blue Jays ranked 26th in the league in home runs (156) during the regular season as four-time All-Star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. finished as the team’s lone hitter to record over 20 home runs — he totaled 30, and George Springer was the runner-up with 19.

Soto’s addition to Toronto’s lineup, or any lineup in the division would speak for itself. The 26-year-old batted .288 with a career-high 41 home runs, 31 doubles and 109 RBIs in 157 appearances, debuting in the AL. Heyman’s already reported that the Red Sox are one of “six teams” remaining “in the running” for Soto, set with a face-to-face meeting with Soto in Southern California before the slugger makes his free agency decision.

So far, there’s no word on Soto’s feeling toward any of the several potential destinations in the running, however, agents across the league have made it known that Boston intends to take a much more aggressive approach to the market in comparison to recent offseasons.

“In our meetings, (the Red Sox) are definitely letting us know that ownership is committed, that they’re wanting to secure high-level players and that they’re definitely planning on being very active in the free agent market,” Scott Boras said, per The Athletic’s Jen McCaffrey.

Soto is one of the many big-league clients represented by Boras.