Red Sox Rumors: What would a Juan Soto trade package look like?
It's no secret that Juan Soto could be leaving San Diego. He's one year away from free agent status, and while there's a possibility the Padres extend him this offseason, Soto and agent Scott Boras may be more incentivized to wait for free agency to land a market-resetting contract.
Boras is generally known for taking his clients to the open market rather than negotiating extensions.
Rather than lose Soto for nothing, the Padres may consider trading their star. What might a Padres-Red Sox trade package look like?
According to The Athletic's Jim Bowden (subscription required), compensation would start with Alex Verdugo, who could immediately become a starting left fielder for the Padres. The Red Sox could also give up starting pitcher Tanner Houck and a few prospects in outfielder Miguel Bleis and right-hander Luis Perales.
Bowden notes that Soto only has one year of control remaining, which significantly dampens any potential return in a trade.
Red Sox Rumors: Shohei Ohtani named the No. 1 'worst fit'
The Red Sox were rumored to be a viable suitor for Shohei Ohtani come this offseason, but are they really in the sweepstakes?
Bleacher Report's Zachary Rymer named the Red Sox as the absolute worst fit for Ohtani and gave a couple reasons why.
For one, Boston isn't reportedly that interested in the Angels star. The club may have other offseason priorities, like finding someone to take Chaim Bloom's spot in the front office.
As for on-field compatibility, Ohtani, a lefty, may not even fit in the Red Sox's hitting rotation. As Rymer points out, "it's right-handed hitters" that Boston needs. And more so than that, the Red Sox are in dire need of quality starting pitchers now, not in 2025 when Ohtani is projected to pitch again.
Ultimately, there may be better and more cohesive fits for Ohtani outside of Fenway Park.
Red Sox Rumors: Ex-Pirates GM Neal Huntington is on the radar
Following reports of numerous candidates rejecting the Red Sox's vacant head of baseball operations position, there's finally one taker.
According to sources from WEEI 93.7, former Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has landed on the Red Sox's radar.
The 54-year-old was the GM for the Pirates from 2007 to 2019; his most successful years spanned from 2013 to 2015, when the Pirates made the playoffs in three consecutive seasons. In 2022, Huntington was hired to serve in a special assistant role for the Guardians.
There's a little bit of existing familiarity between Huntington and Red Sox manager Alex Cora: Huntington actually hired Alex Cora's brother, Joey Cora, as a minor-league manager in 2016 during their joint time in Pittsburgh.
Huntington joins Twins GM Thad Levine as the only two external candidates in line to be interviewed for the Red Sox job. Expect more names to be dropped into the hat in the coming weeks.
