The "Juan Soto sweepstakes" are taking over baseball this winter. Most of the league seems to be at a complete standstill as everybody holds their breath and waits for Soto to sign.
There are basically five teams left in the running to acquire Soto: the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees, the New York Mets, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and the Toronto Blue Jays. Make that six teams, if you want to count the Philadelphia Phillies.
Each team has its own recruiting pitch. For the Red Sox, they're going with an all-hands-on-deck approach, which includes Red Sox legend David Ortiz making a pitch to Soto. Ortiz and Soto have a good relationship that's dated back years.
Ortiz was recently asked how he would speak to Soto in order to help recruit him to Boston.
"I would just tell him it's a great organization. I would tell him to surround yourself with a good organization. I have a very good relationship with Juan. If I see him before in the Dominican where we live, and we talk, I would tell him that the finances, you know, the finances are whatever, they'll take care of themselves," Ortiz told Newsweek Sports on Friday. "I would love for him to go to the Red Sox. He's a phenomenal player. Go to a good organization. The Red Sox are a great organization; they take care of their players."
With the Red Sox emerging as one of the top suitors, to have such a well-respected member of the Baseball Hall of Fame recruiting Soto to play in Boston is going to be pretty tough to look past. Soto and Ortiz's personal relationship has opened the door for the Red Sox to sign the $650 million superstar.
Now it's up to the front office to get the deal done.
Ortiz spoke to Newsweek while attending his 16th Annual "Weekend With Papi" Celebrity Gold Classic, raising money for the David Ortiz Childen's Fund, which raises money for lifesaving pediatric heart surgeries in the Dominican Republic and New England.
As part of his fundraising efforts, Ortiz is holding a silent auction loaded with priceless items that will be live until Saturday, Nov. 23 at 9:30 p.m. ET. You can also donate to the cause on the David Ortiz Childen Fund's website.
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