ORLANDO, Fla. – On the final day of the 2024 MLB Winter Meetings, the Boston Red Sox salvaged a week that saw them lose out on Juan Soto and Max Fried by pulling off a blockbuster trade for Garrett Crochet.

No such face-saving coup this year.

The Red Sox, interested in practically everyone, won no one. Having lost out on Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, they flew home empty-handed.

It’s the same old song and dance in every free agency now. They’re urgent. They’re aggressive. They’re committed. They’re ‘full throttle.’

And then the Red Sox are none of those things – or not enough, at least – and someone else gets the prize.

Remember how it used to be? If the Red Sox wanted someone, boom. Welcome to the Red Sox. They made Boston the ultimate free agency destination by spending, contendin

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