Connor Sargeant: Yankees
When it’s all said and done, come March 27, Juan Soto will be repping the pinstripes for the New York Yankees in their home opener against the Milwaukee Brewers. The most apparent factor determining where Soto ends up is the dollar signs, and while Steve Cohen and the Mets may end up as the higher bidders, the Yankees will not be far behind them. The ball club that winds up signing the 26-year-old will need to put up the dollars and do all the other things right that money can’t buy. Soto not only has a solid rapport with his Yankee teammates, but his chances of winning a World Series in the Bronx are much higher than a borough over. While some considered the outfielder to be the “missing piece to the puzzle” for this year’s Yankee squad, that wasn’t even close to the case, yet the team made it to the World Series for the first time in 15 years.
The Yankees also have the resources to go out and get those missing players, like Christian Walker at first base or resigning second baseman, Gleyber Torres. After all, dollar signs aside, why would Soto ever want to go to the Mets? The team from Queen’s barely made the playoffs this season and tied for second in the NL East with the Braves. Also, the Mets will be in a bidding war with teams like the Astros or Cubs to retain Pete Alonso. The Mets also need a much better rotation to compete with the likes of the Yankees or Dodgers, and this free agency class features plenty of arm talent, meaning that Cohen will have to focus his resources on pitching if he wants to compete with the premier teams. Not only will Sean Manaea be a free agent, but starters like Corbin Burnes and Blake Snell will be on the market, and Scott Boras will tell Soto about this. The Yankees are in a better position to compete for titles in the near future, and this is a factor that will influence Soto’s decision.
After the Yankees were eliminated, the former Padre sat in the Yankee dugout in disbelief. A series that on the surface seemed so far out of reach for those in pinstripes really wasn’t, as the team had numerous opportunities to win it all, and Soto knows this. There is unfinished business in the Bronx; sooner or later, Soto will sign the most expensive contract in Yankee’s history to continue his long career of playing for the greatest franchise in sports, and there is nothing the Mets can do about it.
Ava Inesta: Mets
Since the day that Steve Cohen bought the Mets four years ago, he has made it his mission to change the team into a winning franchise and bring in the best players to New York. Over the last four years, the team’s payroll has risen exponentially. One of Cohen’s first moves as owner of the Mets was the trading and extension of Francisco Lindor. Now four years later, Lindor led the Mets to a winning season and all the way to the NLCS, when no one thought that the Mets would even make the postseason. Prior to this most recent season, the Mets brought on David Stearns to be the new President of Baseball Operations. Following the Mets’ magical 2024 season, they need to be able to continue adding top-notch talent and out-bid their competitors in order to add the players that will single-handedly change what their franchise can accomplish. That is what they plan to do, which is when Juan Soto enters the conversation. Cohen has money that no franchise owner can even fathom with a net worth of $21.3 billion. If any team were to give Soto the top contract and exactly what he wants, it would be the Mets.
On top of Soto, the Mets would still be able to fill the holes that exist on the roster on top of bringing back their home-grown star in Pete Alonso. And after that playoff run where Alonso proved himself to be the true hero as a consistent clutch hitter, the Polar Bear will stay in New York long term, so that is not a concern. The Mets have the huge opportunity of having financial flexibility this off-season after signing a lot of low-commitment contracts last year. The Mets are in the perfect position to sign a player like Soto, especially if he wants to stay in New York like everyone thinks that he does. On the other hand, yes, the New York Yankees made it to the World Series which is a great accomplishment for the city. However, they went ice cold and had no support on offense and defense for most of the series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. When the offense finally kicked started, they were already down 3-0 in the series. Why would Soto want to stay in that position when the Mets are in the conversation? This past season, the Yankees were set up to go to the World Series, especially with the lack of competition in the American League, compared to the Mets who were in tight competitions all season long in a very talent heavy National League. But the Mets still beat the odds, came out of it and made it all the way to the NLCS, which is the difference here.
All through the season, Soto and Aaron Judge carried the Yankees’ lineup. The Yankees could not even beat the Mets once during this past season’s Subway Series, the Mets swept four games, and Soto witnessed it all on the losing end. The Mets adding Soto to their roster would deepen the lineup tremendously and he would be playing alongside stars like Lindor, Alonso, Alvarez, Nimmo and so many more who contribute on the daily. Soto is also already familiar with guys like Lindor and Alvarez, so the chemistry is already there. All Soto has to do is sign those papers with the Mets this offseason. In the end, as much as the Yankees think they could, no one is outbidding Steve Cohen, especially if it is just between the New York teams and that’s the end of this conversation.