Yankees poised for bidding war with Red Sox on two top-tier free agents

Entering Sunday afternoon, the New York Mets are still the likely favorites for Juan Soto, quite possibly leaving the Yankees and Red Sox holding the bag (full of $700+ million). Unfortunately, that's exactly what the rest of baseball is hoping will occur.

If Soto doesn't come to the Bronx or Boston, both teams are prepared to pivot; the Red Sox have already made their intentions to return to the top of the market clear this offseason, and the Yankees are the Yankees. While it'll be difficult to backill Soto's impact, they can't afford not to try.

The sudden Soto void will leave the Yankees chasing outfield power, in whatever capacity they can. Boston? They let Tyler O'Neill walk to the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night, and while they can run out a Jarren Duran/Ceddanne Rafaela/Wilyer Abreu outfield, they might prefer to lead a trade package with Abreu and sign a slugger.

That should take them back to one of their 2024 targets: Teoscar Hernández. He turned down Boston's money because he didn't trust them to chase winning, and ultimately, signing with the Dodgers ended up working out nicely for him. Now, the Sox are poised to compete, and want Hernández to give them a second chance.

The Yankees and Dodgers, the likely favorites, are both interested as well.

Red Sox remain in on Teoscar Hernandez but face stiff competition from Dodgers and Yankees, per source. That market is expected to heat up once Soto signs, not pre-empt it like Adames and O’Neill did.
— Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) December 8, 2024

Yankees Rumors: NYY could get in bidding war with Red Sox over Teoscar Hernández, Max Fried

Given that the Dodgers seemingly hopped into the Soto bidding just to briefly mess with Hernández's market, LA still seems to be a safe bet to re-sign their star slugger, bringing back his 137 OPS+, 33 bombs and a ring.

No matter; the Yankees and Sox both have another alternative path in mind, and seek to beef up their rotations. Unsurprisingly, they might have the same $200 million man in their shopping carts: Max Fried.

MLB insider Bob Nightengale posited on Sunday that a Yankees-Red Sox bidding war over Fried could ignite if neither team signs Soto. Such a frenzy could result in a $200 million windfall for the left-hander.

@BNightengale thinks the Red Sox and Yankees will battle it out for Max Fried.

“Fried priced himself out of Atlanta, but is expected to sign with the Yankees or Red Sox. If Soto goes to the Mets, Fried could find himself in a nice bidding war between the Red Sox and Yankees.” pic.twitter.com/ntlouPswwg
— Tyler Milliken ⚾️ (@tylermilliken_) December 8, 2024

Both teams were also connected to Corbin Burnes in Nightengale's column, along with the San Francisco Giants. But Fried? Only the Yankees and Red Sox were mentioned, and it seems fated that he'll end up with one of them.

Ideally, the Yankees can find the additional pocket change to bring back Soto and bow out of these dual battles with Boston a bit early. It's simpler that way.

Yankees Rumors: NYY could get in bidding war with Red Sox over Teoscar Hernández, Max Fried

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