By Nicolas Mezzaucella
When Juan Soto was traded to the Yankees in December 2023, it was clear New York was all in on making it to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. After record-setting seasons from Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, the Yankees coasted through the American League bracket and booked a date with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fall classic.
However, the Yankees fell short, losing the series in five games. After the series was over, Soto was set for the biggest free agency sweepstakes in the history of baseball, with insiders predicting he would land a deal north of $600 million just hours after the World Series had ended.
After over a month of negotiations with teams such as the Blue Jays, Red Sox, Dodgers, and others, the Soto sweepstakes narrowed down to a pair of crosstown rivals: the Mets and Yankees. On Dec. 11, Soto shocked many by signing a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets.
In his opening press conference with the Mets, Soto gave insight on his decision and clarified that he saw a better future in Queens than he did in the Bronx.
“It’s been in a Mets town for a long time, so I think we just gotta bring it to the top,” Soto said on Fox Sports. “Definitely, championships are going to tell you whether it’s the Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day.”
Soto highlighted how the family aspect of the Mets made them a desirable destination and that family accommodations the team added in his contract played a role in choosing them over the Yankees, who were unwilling to add any such arrangements.
Now that he has arrived at the Mets spring training facility in Port St. Lucie, the change period is underway for Soto. One of the biggest things making Soto feel at home is the Latin community that the Mets have built.
“We actually have a really good Latin community in here, and it’s exciting,” said Soto in the New York Post. “For us it was a really warm welcome and I am happy to be here.”
Keeping all-star first baseman Pete Alonso also helped Soto feel more comfortable within the team’s lineup.
“With him, we’re going to have big depth. It’s great to have him over here,” said Soto to SNY. “We all feed off from that, we put ourselves in a good spot to do what he knows how to do … It’s not only him protecting me, but as a team, we’ve got to protect him too.”
As for the hate he will receive from the Mets crosstown rivals and their fans, Soto had a blunt response when asked how he will deal with it.
“Winning games,” said Soto on SI. “That’s all you gotta do. You don’t have to talk too much. You just gotta go out there and get the job done.”
Soto and the Mets will open their season in Houston against the Astros. His first time back in the Bronx will come on May 16, when the Mets and Yankees kick off a three-game series as a part of the MLB’s new “rivalry weekend.”
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Photo courtesy of EyeWitness News ABC.