The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are locked in their usual rivalry. Although this time, it’s not just about head-to-head games or division titles, but also about Juan Soto. According to Red Sox insider Gabrielle Starr, the Yankees are feeling the heat, and it’s not from a late-season collapse—it’s because the Sox have suddenly become a serious contender for Soto’s services.

Previously, the Yankees were pretty sure they’d be the ones to add a second star to their roster this offseason. But now, as the Red Sox inch closer to the sweepstakes, those same Yankees are realizing their biggest rival might just swoop in and steal their top prize. In fact, sources say the Yankees are way more worried about the Sox’ chances with Soto than anyone expected.

New York stressed over losing Juan Soto

According to Gabrielle Starr, the Yankees are feeling some serious pressure as the Red Sox have emerged as a legitimate contender in the Soto sweepstakes, something New York didn’t expect. “Soto is realistic for [the Red Sox], or they are as realistic a landing spot as the New York Mets,” Starr said. “I would say I’ve heard that the Yankees are definitely more stressed about the Red Sox than they ever thought they would be in the Soto sweepstakes.” As the Winter Meetings come closer, the Juan Soto sweepstakes too are about to come to a close.

Each of the teams that are left in the fight is putting all their chips into the table. As for the New York Yankees, their chances seem to be getting slimmer—they have not shown an effort to meet the expectations of Soto regarding the future plans of the team. There was a point when the Yankees were the strongest contenders to get the young superstar, but Soto was not convinced about their prospects. Now, the Yanks are seeing their two primary competitors, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets, go all out for the player they were certain was in their camp.

Boston to make moves designed to get them back into playoff contention

It’s a moment of hope and excitement for Red Sox fans. Imagine Soto joining the squad and leading Boston into a new era of dominance. The Sox might just win the Soto race, but more importantly, the AL East for years to come. It would be the worst nightmare for the Yankees. According to recent chatter, there is confidence coming from their camp while they are navigating this high-stakes offseason.

All the talk is about making the playoffs in 2024. Though getting a superstar like Soto would change everything, Boston’s front office seems committed to believing that there are multiple roads to contention. ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Buster Olney discuss the free agency chatter this week. Olney brought back some interesting info from within the Red Sox’s meetings. He noted there is strong internal confidence that with the right moves, Boston can get back into the playoff race next season and even make a real challenge for a division title.

So, even if Soto slips through their fingers, the Sox are still looking at a bigger scheme of things. Of course, Juan Soto is the name on everybody’s lips. There’s talk that he has already been offered $600 million-plus by multiple suitors, including the Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets. While the Soto pursuit is a huge headline, it’s clear that the Sox are planning for more than just one shot at stardom this winter.