Owners and general managers around the league are convinced that Juan Soto is to sign his megadeal before the winter meetings even wrap up. They are positive that this won’t be a repeat of the drama of 2019.

That year was when Bryce Harper and Manny Machado sat back while their markets were very slow. As the Soto sweepstakes heat up, an MLB insider says that only four teams can aim to entice the Soto.  

The four teams are the Mets, the Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, and the Boston Red Sox. These are the big players in the game. They are the teams with the financial muscle and the competitive window to make a run at landing one of the most coveted hitters in baseball. The Los Angeles Dodgers? They’re not in the same conversation.  

The Dodgers aren’t serious about Juan Soto? 

The LA Dodgers have already proven they can win a World Series without Soto. According to Bob Nightingale of USA Today, it’s hardly an inconvenience for the Dodgers to hop in their cars, drive across town, and have a meeting with Soto and his super-agent Scott Boras. But let’s be honest, this feels more like a way to keep the market heated and possibly push Soto’s price even higher. After all, what better way to stir the pot than to show up and remind everyone of the Dodgers’ deep pockets?

More importantly, the Dodgers’ interest might be a strategic play to apply some indirect pressure on another outfielder: Teoscar Hernández. The Dodgers need to figure out their outfield. Keeping Soto in the conversation could be their way of ensuring Hernández feels some urgency to re-sign with them. Whether Soto ends up in LA or not, the Dodgers are always working angles. The squad is trying to keep their options open while subtly influencing the market. For now, though, it’s clear that the heavy hitters in this chase are still in New York, Toronto, and Boston.  

The Red Sox go all in   

The Boston Red Sox seem to be finally going all-in on a 2025 playoff push. After four years of missing the postseason, they’re now determined to re-enter the contender conversation. The focus is clear: Juan Soto and starting pitching. While landing Soto is still a long shot, it’s clear the Red Sox are trying to make a statement this offseason. The crew is hoping to add a superstar bat to a lineup that’s already had flashes of brilliance.  

But it’s the pitching side of the equation where things could get especially interesting. The Red Sox have already shown they’re unafraid to bet on youth. Rafael Devers’ extension at the tail end of his age-26 season was a commitment to securing their core for the future, and the pursuit of Yoshinobu Yamamoto last winter was another indicator. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Red Sox keeps tabs on the trade market.

So, who might that young, tradeable pitcher be? Well, recent reports have suggested the Red Sox could be eyeing a certain young ace. Think of a pitcher in his prime years. Perhaps someone like Corbin Burnes of the Brewers or Max Fried of the Braves. Both are established, young arms capable of leading a rotation. They’re both on the trade radar, and either would represent the kind of bold move the Red Sox have shown they’re ready to make.