Feb 24, 2025; Jupiter, Florida, USA; New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto (22) looks on against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

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Money wasn’t everything in Juan Soto’s bold Mets decision

Juan Soto signed for $765 million over 15 years, and seemingly, that wasn't even the largest contract

For the longest time, everyone—including me—assumed Juan Soto chose the New York Mets simply because they offered him the most money. It made sense. The Mets, owned by baseball’s richest owner, Steve Cohen, had the financial muscle to outbid anyone. But as it turns out, money wasn’t the only factor in Soto’s decision.

Soto made sports history this offseason by signing a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets, a deal that could reach $805 million with certain clauses. Meanwhile, the Yankees, Soto’s team in 2024, reportedly offered him $760 million over 16 years, a nearly identical deal in terms of total value.

Throughout free agency, the prevailing belief was that Soto’s decision would come down to an East Coast team, with the Yankees and Mets as the most likely landing spots. The difference between the two? Cohen wants to win at all costs. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner wants to win too, but he’s shown plenty of restraint when it comes to spending. That contrast was thought to be the defining factor in Soto’s choice.

However, according to Soto himself, the Mets’ final offer wasn’t even the biggest one he received this offseason.

Why did Juan Soto pick the Mets?

Speaking on the Spanish-language Abriendo El Podcast with Dominican reporters Vian Araujo Puello and Ricardo Rodríguez, Soto confirmed that his final negotiations involved five teams: the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, and the Mets.

“The Mets weren’t the ones who offered the most money. There were teams that offered more than the Mets.”

It’s unlikely that the Yankees were among them. According to ESPN, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman wanted to keep Soto’s annual salary at $47.5 million and extended their offer to 16 years, totaling $760 million. The Yankees’ proposal also included a $60 million signing bonus and the same fifth-year opt-out the Mets offered, minus the voiding element.

So what was the deciding factor? According to Soto, as he revealed back when he officially signed with the Mets, was their commitment to making him feel comfortable.

“They show me a lot of love from the standpoint of what they have for me and how they are going to try and make it comfortable to me,” Soto said. “That’s one of the things that impress me more, how they are going to treat the people around me and my family and stuff like that.”

This means that the perception throughout Mets could get Soto because they’d have the highest bid was off. They got Soto because he chose them.
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) March 7, 2025

Mets insider Andy Martino added, “It was clear that multiple teams, including Boston, had a willingness to exceed a high offer if they knew Soto would agree. Ultimately, he chose the Mets in part because of the family-friendly vibe that Alex Cohen has established.”

ALSO READ: Is Bryce Harper considering a return to the outfield?

For Mets fans, this has to be an encouraging sign. Their future franchise cornerstone didn’t just sign for the paycheck, he chose the Mets for reasons beyond money.

Juan Soto

Mets

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.