Some will mechanically assume that Juan Soto is strolling away from the New York Yankees in free company to hitch the New York Mets largely as a result of Mets proprietor Steve Cohen outbid Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner for the All-Star outfielder’s companies.
Whereas it is true that Cohen made Soto the very best monetary supply, it is changing into clear that Steinbrenner did not do sufficient to win the 26-year-old over after the Yankees acquired the slugger from the San Diego Padres in December 2023.
For a chunk revealed Monday, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Put up shared how the Mets realized that Soto turned upset early into his Bronx Bombers tenure after “an overzealous Yankees safety man…disallowed a member of the family and his chef/driver from sure areas.”
That was solely the start.
In line with Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports activities, Soto requested Steinbrenner throughout a gathering that occurred in November “why he did not method him throughout this previous season within the Bronx” and “questioned why the proprietor did not attempt to kind a more in-depth relationship with Soto.” It is no secret Soto was by no means going to signal an extension in the course of the marketing campaign and was all the time going to hit the open market after the World Collection, however he apparently wasn’t against constructing a bond with Steinbrenner earlier than the beginning of free company.
“Cohen’s gamers routinely voice how a lot they love enjoying for the Mets as a result of it seems like a household,” Thosar defined. “…Mets gamers have mentioned they really feel like they are often themselves in Queens.”
Such factors are fascinating, as SNY’s Danny Abriano talked about on Oct. 31 that the Mets being “a enjoyable, free workforce” stuffed with “humor, whimsy and pleasure” may attraction to Soto extra so than the Yankees, “the place the kind of facial hair you’ve gotten, how lengthy the hair in your head is and the quantity of chains you put on is managed from above.”
As a lot as Steinbrenner could not beat Cohen’s monetary energy, it appears suggestions hinting that the Yankees’ “historical past and custom” gave them a bonus within the Soto sweepstakes had been merely inaccurate.
“One latest second that painted an image of the Cohens feeling like ‘one of many guys’ to left-hander Sean Manaea was when (Steve Cohen’s spouse and co-owner of the workforce) Alex Cohen’s dad, affectionately often known as ‘Mets Grandpa,’ was doused in champagne in the midst of their clubhouse after they superior to the Nationwide League Championship Collection,” Thosar continued.
To check, Thosar mentioned that Steinbrenner “does not mingle within the clubhouse” and “is never noticed round Yankee Stadium to speak along with his gamers.”
None of this implies the Soto-led Mets will cruise to a World Collection title subsequent 12 months. They should both re-sign power-hitting first baseman Pete Alonso or adequately exchange him earlier than Opening Day. Moreover, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns ought to goal one other dependable beginning pitcher and a few bullpen assist.
With all that mentioned, Cohen deserves credit score for creating an atmosphere that appealed to Soto. Cohen and Stearns can now use Soto to recruit extra expertise to Queens between the continuing MLB winter conferences and the beginning of spring coaching.
