Staying Calm As A Red Sox Fan

A Blog By Dean

Editors Note: I wrote the majority of this blog earlier this week. I have reached out to some of my sources from within the Red Sox circle. I had to go for a run to stop myself from posting crazy predictions on X at that moment. There are a few degrees of separation, but people within Juan Soto’s circle tell those within the Red Sox circle that things are “looking good” for them. Many believe this to be David Ortiz passing information on to the Sox, but I have not confirmed that. All I know is that Juan Soto is expressing the Red Sox as his current #1 landing spot, and someone is passing that along to Boston. Take with that what you will.

For the first time in a long time, it seems like the Red Sox might be ready to spend money again. After spending most of the 21st century as one of the Top 5 teams in payroll, they began to roll back their spending since winning the World Series in 2018. For a while, it seemed like they would go the way of the Tampa Bay Rays, build from within, and keep the payroll down. John Henry was off investing in other sports, and the Front Office sent future HOFers like Mookie Betts away for the equivalent of lint in your belly button.

Then, The Comeback happened. I firmly believe that this documentary's production and eventual release reignited the fire of many Red Sox organization members, including John Henry. It was impossible not to feel romantic about the team while watching that, and I imagine everyone being interviewed felt the same way. These are competitors. They are killers in sports, business, and life. No one who watched that documentary and then looked at the construction of this team came out and said, “Yeah, I think this team can do damage over the next five years.”

So, it is no surprise that the Sox are taking the Soto free agency as seriously as they are. Sam Kennedy came out yesterday and said they would spend over the luxury tax, which you would not have seen in the last five years. They want Soto, Snell, Sasaki, Fried, etc, to know they mean business and are looking to win now.

In addition, they have one of the best farm systems in the MLB. Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Kyle Teel can all make an impact this season. Kristian Campbell and Braden Montgomery are not far behind.

So, it is tough to stay calm as a Red Sox fan right now, and if I am Juan Soto, it is tough not to see a ten-year window where the Red Sox are one of the best teams in the league.

What is Aaron Judge going to look like five years from now? He will be a shell of himself. Giancarlo Stanton will be out of the league. Gerrit Cole will be 40, and maybe, hopefully, they will be able to develop Jasson Dominguez. Someone called “The Alien” cannot supplant Alex Verdugo, which seems like a red flag to me.

All this being said, the Red Sox, to many, now seems like the best landing spot for the Red Sox. I understand the argument for the Mets, but again, you have to look past just the next two years. The two biggest stars of the Mets are Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. Francisco Lindor is one of the most underrated players in baseball and has gotten snubbed out of awards and All-Star games in the past few years. However, he is 31 years old and playing a position where not many players in their mid-30s thrive. Pete Alonso, well, he might not even be on the team. While they have a solid farm system and five players in the Top 100, it does not match where the Sox youth movement is.

So, let’s break down which team has the advantage in specific categories.

Money: Mets

Steve Cohen is worth over $20 billion. John Henry is worth around $ 6 billion. Point Mets.

Endorsement Potential: Mets

Soto will make more money from being in New York. There are no arguments there.

Current Roster: Mets

As of November 22nd, 2024, I will give the Mets a slight lead on current roster construction. That being said, I think the Red Sox will have a better roster come the Spring. At the moment, some roles in the bullpen and in IF need to be ironed out.

Compatriots: Red Sox

Players like playing with their friends from home. Soto and Devers are two of the best Dominican players in baseball, and they are only two years apart in age. Don’t undervalue that.

Coaching: Red Sox

I don’t love Alex Cora, but I have made myself known for that. However, he did something I did not expect and committed himself to the Red Sox for a longer period of time. I like that, and players seem to love him.

Farm System: Red Sox

This photo says it all.

Long-Term Outlook: Red Sox

The Red Sox have more young stars than the Mets. Soto would join Lindor and Alonso as they enter the back half of their careers. Soto would join Devers/Anthony/Mayer/Duran/Abreu/Rafaela/Casas/Bello as they enter the prime of their careers.

Quality Of Living: Boston

NYC, especially over the summer, is a disgusting place to be.

For the few Toronto Blue Jays fans in here that think their team has a chance at signing Soto. I am sorry that Scott Boras is using you the way he is.

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