New York Mets’ Juan Soto poses for photographs at Citi Field, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Juan Soto buttoned up his Mets threads for the first time on Thursday afternoon and explained his reasons for changing sides of New York went beyond the 15-year, $765 million contract.
“What they had done the last couple of years, they have shown all of the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team to try to grow a dynasty,” Soto said Thursday. “What you were seeing from the other side was unbelievable. The vibes and everything, the feel and future this team has had a lot to do with my decision.”
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READ: MLB: Mets sign Juan Soto to record 15-year, $765 million contract
Seated at a table with agent Scott Boras at his left and Mets general manager David Stearns to his right between Soto and franchise owner Steve Cohen, the coveted free agent said he enjoyed the courtship of multiple teams but opted against returning to the Yankees or joining one of their American League East rivals. The Blue Jays and Red Sox also met with Soto.
Since the free agency process started, Soto all but tuned out the Yankees. Asked if he talked to anyone with his former team on Thursday, Soto said “I haven’t talked to any of those guys. We talked to them through the playoffs, at the end of the playoffs. After that, I made this process, I haven’t talked to any of those (guys).”
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Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts after striking out during the third inning of Game Four of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Yankee Stadium on October 29, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City. Sarah Stier/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Sarah Stier / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Cohen, a billionaire who made his riches in hedge funds, felt the Mets would lure Soto away from the Yankees if they were able to make the pitch more personal.
He said he was persistent and made sure Soto knew the Mets meant business all the way to the finish line.
READ: ‘Hurt’ Yankees moving on after Juan Soto departure
A second meeting with Soto, when the Mets said they learned about the slugger as a person and family man, Cohen felt the Mets sealed the deal.
“We want to show them we’re not just an executive, show them who we were — have a personal touch and act like you care about the person, which I do,” he said.
Soto, 26, joins the Mets — his fourth team since breaking into MLB with the Nationals in 2018 — after spending one season with the crosstown rival Yankees, who gave the outfielder a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer that was turned down back on Nov. 19.
The New York Post reported that the Yankees were willing to fork out $760 million over 16 years to bring back Soto, but the Mets ended up outbidding them.
Soto helped the Yankees reach the World Series in 2024 after hitting .288 with a career-high 41 home runs along with 109 RBIs in 157 regular-season games. In the Fall Classic, Soto posted a .313 average and blasted a solo shot to account for his only RBI of the series, a five-game set that the Los Angeles Dodgers took 4-1.
The Dodgers made baseball’s biggest splash last offseason, signing free agent Shohei Ohtani to a 10-year, $700 million contract. Shortly after the signing, however, reports surfaced that Ohtani was deferring $68 million of the $70 million he is due each season, with Los Angeles paying the two-way star through 2043.
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In 936 career games across seven major league seasons with the Nationals (2018-22), San Diego Padres (2022-23) and Yankees (2024), Soto has clubbed 201 homers, racked up 592 RBIs and is a .285 hitter. –Field Level Media
