Juan Soto, the star outfielder for the New York Yankees, is set to become a free agent, and the New York Mets are emerging as a strong contender for his services. This potential move would significantly impact the Yankees, as highlighted by an anonymous front office executive who remarked to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, “Going from the Yankees to the Mets … that’s a buzzkill.”
At just 26 years old, Soto is a four-time All-Star who had a remarkable season, leading the American League with 128 runs and adding 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a .989 OPS to his impressive resume. His playoff performance has also been noteworthy, particularly during a crucial Game 5 of the American League Championship Series, where he hit a three-run homer to secure a 5-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians. This win marked the Yankees’ first AL pennant in 15 years.
Soto joined the Yankees last offseason in a major trade from the San Diego Padres. Given his exceptional performance during both the regular season and playoffs, he is poised to secure one of the largest contracts in MLB history, with reports suggesting a “whisper number” around $600 million, the second-highest deal after Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million contract.
Mets owner Steve Cohen has shown a willingness to invest heavily in his team, having led MLB’s payroll each of the last two seasons. However, it remains uncertain whether the Yankees can match the Mets in a bidding war for Soto, especially as Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner appears inclined to reduce the team’s over $300 million payroll.
The upcoming days will reveal the Mets’ seriousness in pursuing Soto, who is also likely to attract interest from other teams. The San Francisco Giants have been named as a potential suitor, along with the Washington Nationals, Soto’s former team. Notably, Soto previously declined a 15-year, $440 million contract from the Nationals, a decision that seems prudent as he approaches a more lucrative deal this offseason.