NEW YORK, NY — Juan Soto chose the Mets and became the richest professional athlete among major sports leagues because owner Steve Cohen put a luxury suite clause in his $765 million dollar long term contract, that from accounts was his decision to bypass the Yankees and a similar offer.
We do know the 26-year-old generational ballplayer with a five-year opt out clause is a rich man.
And the talk continues, was it the suite incentive or sweet money that Cohen offered that became a bidding war with the crosstown Yankees. And we know now, Cohen has the lead over owner Hal Steinbrenner and the Yankees, of course a gap of signing the superstar player that alluded the Mets for years is over.
Steve Cohen and the Mets won the Juan Soto free agency sweepstakes with a $765 million bid – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Then again, a billionaire owner who purchased the Mets in 2020 was bound to throw a lasting strike. Cohen got his player, the Mets vastly improved with Soto in the lineup, and plenty more to do before spring training camps commence in mid-February.
The Yankees struck out with Soto, a risk when they traded for him. Soto to the Yankees from the Padres for five players in his walk year. The Yankees did not lose with that deal, Soto helped deliver his team to their first World Series in 15 years and finished with MVP numbers.
The only loss for the Yankees was the Padres seeing pitcher Michael King continue to develop and get some NL Cy Young Award consideration.
Juan Soto hit 41 home runs as a Yankee in 2024 and recorded 109 RBI – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Basically this was about business, and I say this to Yankees fans who are livid, don’t throw pitches of hate at Soto. And I truly don’t want to hear that the Soto decision was all about a family oriented Mets organization. The Yankees are also family oriented towards their players and families. They have more than one family day in the Bronx when players and their families gather post game on the field with an annual picnic. We see that from the press box writing postgame accounts and witness a Yankees organization that always takes care of their players.
And that reported account, Soto blasting Yankees security personnel for not allowing certain members of his family in the ballpark are hard to believe, supposedly a major reason he jumped across town. I know a higher-up official of Yankees security and been a friend of his for years, one to never fabricate a story and this account is certainly not the Yankees way.
Juan Soto received love from Yankee fans throughout the whole 2024 season – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
No, this was about the money, even though the Yankees offer was not much different. Perhaps it was Soto not getting the spotlight over AL MVP Aaron Judge, though that is also difficult to comprehend. Soto and Judge were inseparable, shaded from the media during pre-game batting practice. They gelled together, produced, and were clubhouse leaders, well documented.
It strictly was about the money, a loss for the Yankees but not a total disaster. The Yankees will move on from Soto, a rivalry with the Yankees and Mets thickens. The storylines will be interesting when Soto returns to Yankee Stadium in May during the Subway inter-league series.
The Subway Series in 2025 will make for epic headlines each and every inning – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
So if you are one of those fans that has bashed Soto on social media, shame on you. Yes, I say the salary structure of baseball is out-of-hand, the sport of all the major leagues without a salary cap, and perhaps that is needed. Soto and super agent Scott Boras went for the money and who would not with the numbers offered?
The Yankees will rebound without Soto in their lineup. They have money off the table that leaves them leverage to improve and become younger and athletic. They have emerging young talent stars in Austin Wells, Anthony Volpe, “The Martian” Jasson Domínguez who will patrol center as Judge pivots to right field.
New York Yankees’ captain Aaron Judge will reportedly be moving back to right field – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
And with a team salary projected at more than $224 million, the Yankees will possibly spend on another outfielder (Anthony Santander, or pull a trade with the Cubs for All-Star Cody Bellinger. Now that the Soto drama and suspense is over, the Yankees will pivot to Plan B.
There was no guarantee that Soto was returning to the Bronx. Another contingency plan was in motion, the Yankees are always in to win. But not the difference and length that Mets went with Soto. The Yankees will still be favorites to win the AL East, more to come to say if they will return to the World Series.
Again, though, don’t bash Soto or the Yankees. The complexion of baseball has changed with this contract. Then again, this was strictly business and you can’t fault the Yankees or Soto for trying.
The $765 million man, and former LatinoMVP award winner, Juan Soto, has found a new home in Flushing, Queens – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Regardless, the Mets with the richest owner in baseball have made their statement for the moment. They are no longer the little brother in New York next to the Yankees. They could be the favorites to win their division, and possibly, the NL pennant.
I always say, it’s baseball economics. One day way after my time we will see the first billion dollar baseball player.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and contributor at LatinoSports.com – X (Twitter): @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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