Soto Shuffles Down to Queens

Months from the start of the Major League Baseball (MLB) season, Steve Cohen and the New York Mets have already smashed the piggy bank. With former New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto looking to start a bidding war, chaos was destined to ensue in the free agent market. However, by the MLB Winter Meetings, the ceiling was completely blown off. Soto ultimately attracted and signed an offer valued at $765 million for the Mets, the highest in sports history—even higher than superstar Shohei Ohtani’s 10-year, heavily deferred $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. In reality, if Soto were to honor the contract past 2029, the value would increase to an even crazier $805 million. 

Cohen’s maneuver came in spite of Hal Steinbrenner’s attempts to keep Soto in the Bronx and Mark Walter’s attempts to bring him out to Los Angeles’ sunny shores; the Yankees and the Dodgers were the original frontrunners in the race for one of baseball’s best sluggers. The competition was tight, but Soto chose the team that offered the most money. With this move, Cohen’s Mets have once again shown what they want to be and how much money they’re willing to invest into bringing the World Series back to Queens.

Over the past season, Soto has demonstrated that he is a critical tool for any team hoping to win the World Series. He scored the second-most runs of any player in the league and had the fourth-most home runs. His plate discipline is unmatched; Soto drew the most walks and had the highest walk-to-strikeout ratio in the league. He also produces in clutch moments; in extra innings of Game 5 of the ALCS, Soto delivered with the go-ahead home run that secured the series for the Pinstripes. Given that he’s just 26 and approaching his athletic prime, fans can only wonder where Soto’s limits truly lie and how much more scoring output he could produce.

The 2024 Mets were an incredible amalgamation of undiscovered talent that demonstrated baseball prowess through vibes and chemistry. Their magical run to the National League Division Series came off the backs of a mismatched core of veterans and new players alike. Shortstop Francisco Lindor put up one of his best hitting seasons of his career, constantly remaining in the MVP conversation despite the dominance of Dodgers designated hitter Ohtani. First baseman Pete Alonso and second baseman Jeff McNeil carried the Mets through the latter half of the season, delivering with clutch hit after clutch hit to power the team to the penultimate round of the playoffs. Though the Mets fell short to the eventual World Series champions, the star-studded Los Angeles Dodgers, in this year’s National League Championship Series, the team’s future seems bright. However, with an aging lineup and some power holes to fill, Cohen immediately opened his checkbook. He arranged to meet with Soto at one of his homes in California rather than a hotel, and attempted to bond with Soto over their shared ambition. Clearly, the pair are both aiming to accomplish something remarkable in baseball and have found a way to align their goals.

The Yankees nearly matched the Mets’ hyper-competitive bid in terms of money, offering $760 million over 16 years, but Soto ultimately chose to abandon his Bronx allegiances in favor of a cross-borough transfer to Queens. Though the Yankees played in this year’s World Series, marking their first appearance in baseball’s ultimate competition since 2009, their humiliating destruction in the finals left a bitter taste to a largely impressive season. Though we can’t know for sure, the Yankees’ comical downfall against the Dodgers may have supported Soto’s decision to move. Although the New York Post circulated rumors about Yankees staff mistreating Soto and members of his family, he fervently denied such allegations, which arose from members of his family being denied entry to the stadium. However, even this informed Cohen’s approach, as he included a $50,000 box at Citi Field for the duration of Soto’s contract. This was one of the distinguishing factors between the final offers from the Mets and Yankees; the Mets indicated that they wanted to take care of Soto’s family and ensure that the star and his family felt at home. Cohen and his wife worked to build a relationship with Soto’s family, becoming especially close with his mother. 

For the Mets, signing Soto certainly places budgetary constraints on other players in contract years. Most importantly, Mets fans are concerned about the future of Alonso, who is a free agent. Though the slugger’s ability has declined from his stellar rookie season, his unforgettable ninth-inning home run against the Brewers in the National League Wild Card Series made him a permanent fixture in New York Mets lore. Cohen has expressed that the Mets are still “engaged” with the slugger and hope to reign him in for next season. With those two and MVP-candidate Lindor driving their hitting core, Cohen’s Mets seek once again to contend for the World Series after this year’s promising postseason.

The Yankees, who came so close to tasting World Series glory for the first time in 15 years, are marching forward as well. Though Soto’s decision to play in Flushing caused outbursts amongst many fans on social media, the organization is making splash signings of their own. This began with former Braves pitcher Max Fried, who the Yankees signed on a $218 million, eight-year contract—the largest in baseball history for a left-handed pitcher. Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger will also be joining the Yankees following a trade. Most recently, the Yankees added former Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt to their roster to round out an exceptional hitting core. The Yankees already have a slew of powerful players thirsty for a championship, and can spend even more money to fill the Soto-sized hole in their outfield.