Red Sox are reportedly favorites to sign former World Series MVP

The Boston Red Sox could be adding a player who won a World Series even more recently than they did.

MLB insider Hector Gomez reported on Sunday that the Red Sox have been “very aggressive” recently in talks for free-agent slugger Jorge Soler. Gomez adds that Boston is now considered to be the frontrunner to sign Soler.

The 31-year-old Soler is a two-time World Series champion (with the Chicago Cubs in 2016 and the Atlanta Braves in 2021). For the latter victory, Soler was named the World Series MVP after hitting three home runs in the championship round against the Houston Astros. Soler was also an All-Star last season for the Miami Marlins and led the AL in home runs in 2019 with 48 of them for the Kansas City Royals.

As for the Red Sox, they are clearly looking to shed payroll this winter and recently unloaded an expensive player on Soler’s former team, the Braves. But that is not stopping them from spending strategically on lower-tier free agents (such as this ex-All-Star pitcher). Soler, an excellent power hitter, but one who strikes out a lot and struggles to get on base without the long ball, might fit that profile for Boston as well.