Juan Soto's decision to sign with the Yankees' cross-city rivals, the New York Mets, shocked many. But was the decision solely based on money?
Just two months ago, Juan Soto was the toast of the Bronx. He had Yankees fans chanting his name, dragging their team to the World Series. Today, he is the villain of Gotham, swapping pinstripes for Mets blue and orange in a 15-year, $765 million blockbuster deal – the largest in sports history. The Yankees’ final offer? A $760 million over 16 years. So, did five million dollars and a slightly shorter commute to Citi Field fuel Soto’s departure?
Oh, if only it were that simple.
Rumor has it that Soto’s deal hit a snag over something as simple as a suite at Yankee Stadium. According to veteran reporter Jon Heyman, Yankees management wasn’t quite willing to roll out the golden carpet. Mets’ big-spending owner, Steve Cohen happily threw in one at Citi Field, but Yankees brass wouldn’t budge. Why? Because superstars Aaron Judge and Derek Jeter paid for theirs.
So did the Yankees lose one of the generational talents in MLB over a ballpark suite?
Apparently not. Reports suggest there were a couple of incidents outside the stadium that sparked some “negative feelings” for the 26-year-old.
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Heyman also revealed that early in the season, a security guard reportedly booted Soto’s parents from an area in the stadium.
Later in the year, the same guy ejected Soto’s driver and chef, who were left standing in the rain.
While Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office twiddled their thumbs waiting for Soto’s decision, the rest of the offseason passed them by. Case in point: Blake Snell.
According to the New York Post, on November 30, Blake Snell’s agent, Scott Boras, got on a Zoom call with Brian Cashman to inform him about the Dodgers’ offer and asked if the Yankees had anything better on the table.
“I can’t make an offer until I know what’s going on with Soto first,” Cashman told Boras as per the New York Post.
The next day, Snell was a Dodger, signing a $182 million deal with the reigning champs.
The Yankees now face an uphill task to make this offseason a success. They need help at first base, second base, two outfield spots, and in the rotation. Options are still out there – Pete Alonso, Nolan Arenado, and Cody Bellinger to name a few – but it will take some deep pockets to fill the gaps.
But let’s be honest: no matter who they sign, the specter of Juan Soto will loom large. Every time he steps up to bat at Citi Field, Yankees fans will feel a pang of “what if.” What if they would just throw in that suite? or booted out that security personnel?
For now, Soto is a Met, the Yankees are scrambling. Mets fans, meanwhile, are grinning ear to ear.
Image Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
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