MLB insider names two players that are ‘more likely’ for Red Sox to sign than Juan Soto

By Colin McCarthy All eyes are on the offseason bidding war for Juan Soto, whom the Red Sox have expressed plenty of interest in .

However, many MLB insiders still dont view Boston as favorites for the All-Star outfielder.

If the Red Sox cant land Soto, there are two other key names to watch as Boston looks to upgrade its roster, according to The Athletics Jim Bowden.

I also see them adding a bat, with [Teoscar] Hernandez or [Anthony] Santander more likely than Soto, Bowden said of the Red Sox in his mailbag column Friday.

Hernandez has been linked to Boston previously by other insiders, both this offseason and in 2023.

Just after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to last season, Hernandez admitted hed love to play in Boston and at Fenway Park.

Regardless of his desires, things worked out pretty well for Hernandez in 2024; the outfielder won a World Series with the Dodgers while batting .272 with a career-high 33 home runs.

Santander is also a righty outfielder, though hes batted both ways in his career.

The 30-year-old has spent his entire MLB career with the Orioles to this point, and owns a career .246 batting average.

Like Hernandez, Santander also blasted a career-high 44 home runs last season.

Boston has a need for a quality righty bat in the lineup, and both Santander and Hernandez would fit that bill.

Bowden also noted that Boston will be looking to add at least one, and possibly two top pitchers.

They seem more committed to the starting pitching side of the market and are playing on Corbin Burnes, Max Fried and Roki Sasaki, Bowden said.

And I wont be surprised if they land two of them.

While Soto will continue to dominate headlines until he makes a decision on his next team, the Red Sox will have a plethora of options if they are indeed willing to aggressively spend money this offseason.

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