At their year-end press conference in late September, members of Red Sox leadership said the wait had gone on long enough, and it was time to get back in the game.

It was a significant statement of intent compared to recent quiet offseasons, but after “full throttle”-gate last year, team president and CEO Sam Kennedy acknowledged that the club needed to back up their words with meaningful action.

Their new travel plans indicate that they’re serious about following through. According to MLB insiders Jeff Passan (ESPN) and Jon Heyman (New York Post), the Red Sox are among the teams meeting with free-agent superstar Juan Soto and his powerhouse agent, Scott Boras, in southern California this week. (Boras’ office is in Newport Beach.)

New York is still considered Soto’s most likely landing spot. The Yankees, who acquired his final year of club control from the Padres last offseason, and Mets are both on Soto’s schedule; Yankees manager Aaron Boone confirmed his team would be making a trip out west. Soto’s dance card also includes the Blue Jays, Dodgers, Giants, and two “mystery teams.” The Jays could be the dark horse that overtakes both New York clubs; they’re trying to land a big star after falling to the Dodgers in the Shohei Ohtani sweepstakes last winter.

Unlike the Rays, another interested party, the Red Sox can afford to sign Soto, who’s projected to sign for upwards of $600 million over a minimum of 10 years. It would be the largest non-deferred deal in MLB history by far, but thanks to several scrimpy seasons, the Red Sox have more than enough financial flexibility in the immediate and distant future to accommodate such a large contract. Since winning the 2018 World Series, they’ve only committed to two free-agent contracts in excess of $50 million, Trevor Story (2022) and Masataka Yoshida (2023).

It would, however, be close to or more than triple the largest free-agent spend in franchise history — David Price’s $217 million over seven years — and nearly double the price tag on Rafael Devers’ franchise-record $313.5MM deal.

Yet while the Red Sox’s effort with Soto signals a promising return to form for the club, they’re more likely to spend big on a marquee starting pitcher, a more pressing need. They have an abundance of young outfield talent on their Major League roster in Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, and Ceddanne Rafaela, as well as Roman Anthony, the No. 1 overall prospect in the game, in Triple-A.

Pivetta likely to decline qualifying offer

What’s more surprising: that the Red Sox extended a qualifying offer to Nick Pivetta, or that he’s expected to decline it?

This year’s $21.05 million QO is nearly triple Pivetta’s 2024 salary — he made $7.5 million in his final year of arbitration — but a multi-year deal provides more security and undoubtedly comes with a bigger overall payday. ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel recently projected that Pivetta will land a deal in the ballpark of three years, $63 million. However, free-agency spending is expected to explode this offseason, and Pivetta’s durability and upside could force pitching-hungry teams into a bidding war.

In addition to linking Soto and the Sox, Passan reported that Pivetta is “almost certainly” going to turn down the one-year QO in favor of free agency, where a lucrative deal of “at least” three years awaits. The Braves, Cubs, and Orioles are among the teams interested in the right-hander. The Rays, known for transforming pitchers, could also throw their hat in the ring.

Since 2012, 138 Major Leaguers have received qualifying offers. Only 13 have accepted them. Last year, the league went 0-for-7 with QOs. The Red Sox last extended QOs to Nathan Eovaldi and Xander Bogaerts in 2022, with both players opting for free agency instead.

If Pivetta does, in fact, decline the QO, the Red Sox will receive draft compensation from whichever team signs him. The Red Sox used Bogaerts’ comp pick to select Kristian Campbell, the versatile defender who expanded their top prospect trio known as the “Big Three” (Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, Kyle Teel) into the “Big Four” this season.

No Silver Slugger awards for pair of snubbed Red Sox

Neither Rafael Devers nor Jarren Duran took home hardware when the Silver Slugger Awards were announced Tuesday evening.

The two Red Sox finalists lost out to Cleveland star third baseman José Ramirez and American League outfielders Aaron Judge, Soto, and Anthony Santander.

While Ramirez was a lock for the American League third-base accolade — Devers only had his fellow 2024 All-Star beat in on-base percentage, .354 to .335 — Duran’s snub is more surprising. The Red Sox leadoff man and 2024 All-Star Game MVP led all Major League hitters in plate appearances, at-bats, doubles, and triples. Among the five outfield finalists, Duran ranked top-three in total bases, runs, average, and OPS, and led the category in games (160), stolen bases (34), and hits (191).