Some will automatically assume that Juan Soto is walking away from the New York Yankees in free agency to join the New York Mets largely because Mets owner Steve Cohen outbid Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner for the All-Star outfielder’s services.
While it’s true that Cohen made Soto the best financial offer, it’s becoming clear that Steinbrenner didn’t do enough to win the 26-year-old over after the Yankees acquired the slugger from the San Diego Padres in December 2023.
For a piece published Monday, MLB insider Jon Heyman of the New York Post shared how the Mets learned that Soto became upset early into his Bronx Bombers tenure after “an overzealous Yankees security guy…disallowed a family member and his chef/driver from certain areas.”
That was only the beginning.
According to Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports, Soto asked Steinbrenner during a meeting that occurred in November “why he didn’t approach him during this past season in the Bronx” and “wondered why the owner didn’t try to form a closer relationship with Soto.” It’s no secret Soto was never going to sign an extension during the campaign and was always going to hit the open market after the World Series, but he apparently wasn’t opposed to building a bond with Steinbrenner before the start of free agency.
“Cohen’s players routinely voice how much they love playing for the Mets because it feels like a family,” Thosar explained. “…Mets players have said they feel like they can be themselves in Queens.”
Such points are interesting, as SNY’s Danny Abriano mentioned on Oct. 31 that the Mets being “a fun, loose team” full of “humor, whimsy and joy” could appeal to Soto more so than the Yankees, “where the type of facial hair you have, how long the hair on your head is and the amount of chains you wear is controlled from above.”
As much as Steinbrenner couldn’t beat Cohen’s financial power, it appears suggestions hinting that the Yankees’ “history and tradition” gave them an advantage in the Soto sweepstakes were simply inaccurate.
“One recent moment that painted a picture of the Cohens feeling like ‘one of the guys’ to left-hander Sean Manaea was when (Steve Cohen’s wife and co-owner of the team) Alex Cohen’s dad, affectionately known as ‘Mets Grandpa,’ was doused in champagne in the middle of their clubhouse after they advanced to the National League Championship Series,” Thosar continued.
To compare, Thosar said that Steinbrenner “doesn’t mingle in the clubhouse” and “is rarely spotted around Yankee Stadium to talk with his players.”
None of this means the Soto-led Mets will cruise to a World Series title next year. They need to either re-sign power-hitting first baseman Pete Alonso or adequately replace him before Opening Day. Additionally, Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns should target another reliable starting pitcher and some bullpen help.
With all that said, Cohen deserves credit for creating an environment that appealed to Soto. Cohen and Stearns can now use Soto to recruit additional talent to Queens between the ongoing MLB winter meetings and the start of spring training.
