Jeff Passan denies Juan Soto's contract with the Red Sox

In the United States, the free agency of Juan Soto has become a hot topic following the announcement of Blake Snell's signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Soto, a 26-year-old superstar outfielder, is currently weighing multiple offers from five teams: the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays. These discussions have intensified as initial offers have started flowing in, and at least two teams have already improved their bids. On Thanksgiving Day, a report emerged suggesting Soto might be leaning toward signing with the Boston Red Sox, including a rumored 12-year contract worth around $50 million per year. This report originated from Mike Rodriguez, a former Chicago Cubs broadcaster, who claimed that Soto had an extensive conversation with Rafael Devers about the possibility of joining the Red Sox. However, shortly after this report was shared, ESPN's respected baseball reporter, Jeff Passan, took to social media to refute the claims, clarifying that no contract agreements had yet been reached by Soto. He encouraged fans to focus on spending time with family instead of worrying about Soto's decisions. Despite Rodriguez's insights and the excitement they generated, Passan's swift denial highlighted the speculative nature of current discussions revolving around Soto's future. Given the several rounds of bidding expected, it remains likely that Soto will not make any final decision until early December, possibly during the Winter Meetings scheduled to take place in Dallas from December 9-12. This prolonged negotiation process indicates significant interest and competition for Soto’s services among multiple major league teams.