Part 5/9:
The manner in which the Red Sox found out they were no longer in contention for Soto is indicative of a larger conversation regarding their seriousness as players in the free-agent market. Reports suggested that the team learned they were out of the running during a dinner at which Soto's agent, Scott Boras, sat a mere couple of tables away. This awkward scenario paints a broader picture of how the Red Sox are perceived: a franchise that may still be living in the glory days of its past but struggles to reflect that image in present-day negotiations.