The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are among the five teams still in the running for star outfielder Juan Soto, but neither American League East contender is a clear favorite to land the $700 million superstar. Many industry experts predict that the New York Mets
could ultimately secure Soto, leaving the Yankees and Red Sox to intensify their pursuit of other top-tier free agents. Should Soto sign with the Mets, the Yankees and Red Sox are poised to enter a heated competition for pitchers Max Fried and Corbin Burnes—two arms
that have been heavily linked to both teams. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Yankees and Red Sox are currently the frontrunners in the bidding war for Fried this winter.
Fried, a key pitcher for the Atlanta Braves, has reportedly priced himself out of Atlanta, with a potential deal expected to surpass $200 million. Nightengale notes that given recent contract trends—such as Matthew Boyd’s $29 million, Luis Severino’s $67 million, and Blake
Snell’s $36.4 million annual salary—Fried and Burnes are likely to command significant sums. The Yankees, Red Sox, and San Francisco Giants are all believed to be in the mix, with Fried potentially signing before or after Burnes depending on the timing of their deals.
Both the Yankees and Red Sox are well-positioned to make big moves this offseason, especially if they miss out on Soto. Should they be unsuccessful in landing the superstar outfielder, they are expected to pivot quickly toward securing Fried, Burnes, or other
expensive backup options. As the Juan Soto sweepstakes draws to a close, the Yankees, Red Sox, and other contenders—including the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers—are set to make their next major moves.