Juan Soto has been the center of attention this offseason, and he is now officially donning a Mets uniform. Fans eagerly anticipated the Dominican player’s choice, and now that it’s made, the Mets are clearly thrilled, as showcased by their quick introduction of Soto at a press conference at Citi Field. While every major team sought Soto, making lucrative offers, the final decision rested with Steve Cohen, the Mets’ owner, who offered the biggest contract in sports history. Honestly, who in their right mind could say no to that?
Just as with Shohei Ohtani, money played a significant role. However, in Soto’s case, the Mets as a team were also a crucial factor. During the same press conference, reporters inquired about what prompted Soto to choose the Mets. His response was direct: “What they showed me and how the organization runs things and how they are going to manage things and how they look at the future is one of the things that opened my eyes a little bit more.” The 26-year-old was clearly impressed by the team’s approach.
Soto elaborated, “Definitely, that was one of the things that opened up my eyes more. [Just] how hungry they are to win a championship and to want to make a dynasty.” As a generational talent, Soto is focused on winning championships; he could not find that opportunity with the Yankees, making the Mets’ ambition appealing to him. He noted that he hasn’t maintained contact with any players from his previous team.
Juan Soto’s smile faded when asked about his old teammates. When inquired if he kept in touch with players from the Padres, the 26-year-old referred to them as “those guys” and replied negatively. It’s somewhat disheartening, given the time they shared, but it seems the connection simply wasn’t there for Soto. This contrasts sharply with Aaron Judge’s free agency, during which his former teammate Anthony Rizzo even used their dogs to arrange playdates in an attempt to persuade him to stay.
This difference in bonds makes one wonder why Soto’s former teammates didn’t make more effort to keep him around. A player needs to feel wanted, and perhaps the Yankees, despite their efforts with Judge, missed the mark with Soto. Additionally, there was an incident where one of Soto’s parents was reportedly removed by a security guard from a designated area at the stadium, which may have left Soto with a negative impression of the Bronx. Such factors can greatly influence a player’s decision about a team, and it appears Soto didn’t feel the love in New York.
After the press conference video gained traction, analyst Andy Martino revealed that Soto wasn’t allowed to speak to players from teams involved in the bidding for his services. This clarification highlights that Soto’s agent, Scott Boras, likely advised him to maintain distance to avoid premature influences on his decision. It’s evident that Soto’s feelings toward his former team and how he was treated played a significant role in his decision-making process.
Leave a Reply