The Red Sox have placed Juan Soto at the top of their free agent list as the hot stove of the offseason begins to heat up.

Soto, one of the best hitters in baseball, is the star of this offseason’s free agent class. At just 26 years old, Soto won his fifth Silver Slugger award after hitting .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs with the Yankees. He is a four-time All-Star in seven seasons, as well as the 2018 Rookie of the Year winner.

Despite an expiring deal, Soto was acquired by the Yankees via trade last offseason. New York had missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, prompting longtime executive Brian Cashman to go all-in for Soto.

While the Yankees failed to win the World Series title, losing to the Dodgers in five games, Soto was a big reason the club punched its first World Series ticket since 2009. Soto hit a two-out, three-run homer in the 10th. inning of Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to propel the Yankees into their matchup against Los Angeles.

The Sox have yet to meet with Soto, but that is expected to happen this week after the Blue Jays introduce the four-time All-Star. If the Sox landed Soto, they would get their best power hitter since David Ortiz.

The Red Sox’s goal this offseason is, in part, to create more balance in a lineup already heavy on lefties. Still, the left-handed Soto is, of course, the exception, and he’s expected to land a contract that could exceed $600 million.

Soto’s integration into the lineup would be almost seamless, helping protect Rafael Devers, who hasn’t had a true bodyguard since the days of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and JD Martinez. Soto’s profile would also fit the Red Sox’s approach, largely built around controlling the strike zone and punching into the zone.

Soto would be the epitome of this methodology, with a career walk rate of 18.8% and a strikeout percentage of just 17.0 (league averages are 8.5% walks; 22.7 Strikeouts %).

Winning Soto would certainly come at a cost. The Sox have been linked to White Sox starter Garrett Crochet. If Boston makes this deal, it could come at the expense of Red Sox starter and Wilyer Abreu, who won a Gold Glove in right field in his first full season in the major leagues.

The Sox have repeatedly hinted that they are ready to embark on the hunt for big-name free agents. A deal for Soto would be in line with those remarks.

Defense, especially at Fenway Park, would be Soto’s only question mark. Although he was a Gold Glove finalist in right field, he finished the season with only 1 defensive run saved. The eye test supported his play, with Soto misplaying balls in right field at times and foes displaying a willingness to take the extra bag on him.

His lackluster defense forced Aaron Judge, a Gold Glove-caliber right fielder, to shift to center in an attempt to hide Soto in right, with the small porch at Yankee Stadium.

Still, Fenway’s right fielder plays more as a center and, internally, Soto is almost considered a designated hitter.

However, Soto remains a superstar, capable of reviving the excitement around Jersey Street.

Julian McWilliams can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow him @byJulianMack.