Mets owner Steve Cohen meets Juan Soto to discuss potential future plans, signaling strong interest in the star player.
Steve Cohen, the owner of the Mets, headed a group of top club executives for a meeting with sought-after free agent Juan Soto in Orange County, Calif., on Saturday.
Every indication points to a successful meeting, with the Mets still considered top contenders for 26-year-old Soto’s services. Soto, who contributed to the Yankees’ World Series run in 2024, is a top priority for both New York teams this winter.
The Mets’ show was described as a “major event” with a lot of attention to detail. The exclusive meetings are taking place at a secret spot close to Newport Beach, California, with extreme secrecy to prevent such information from leaking.
However, one individual indicated that the Mets are “hopeful” – and possibly even optimistic – about their likelihood of securing the top prize in this year’s free-agent group. Reports suggest that Mets baseball president David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza attended the California meeting with Cohen and are believed to have left a good impression as well.
It is unclear if official offers are being presented at meetings this week, but it is highly likely that the slugger will surpass Dodgers superstar Shohei Ohtani’s record for contract value, which is currently valued at approximately $437M to $470M due to historically deferred $700 million deal.
Soto’s agreement may amount to $600 million, or potentially up to an immediate $700 million. The Blue Jays, Red Sox, and other teams have met with Soto this week, and the Yankees are scheduled to travel to California for their meeting.
The Yankees, also seen as top contenders, have a meeting planned with Soto on Monday. Soto, along with superstar Aaron Judge, formed one of the most lethal hitting duos in history by hitting 41 home runs and achieving a .989 OPS in his season in The Bronx.
The Yankees’ owner Hal Steinbrenner, who matched the Giants’ offer of $360 million over nine years to keep Judge in free agency two years ago, is heading a Yankees team with general manager Brian Cashman and manager Aaron Boone.
It is rumored that members of the Yankees baseball team are very enthusiastic about completing this task, and being the team with the highest revenue in MLB, they should have a good chance after Soto’s successful season in The Bronx.
The MLB owners will convene in New York starting Tuesday, meaning the Yankees will likely meet with Soto towards the end, if not at the very end. It’s unclear if that provides any kind of benefit. While the Yankees currently hold the title, the Mets have some advantages, beginning with Cohen’s significant resources and his commitment to building a long-lasting successful team in Queens.
The Mets, who have had the highest payroll in MLB for the last two years, also reached the NLCS this season and seem to be moving in a positive direction.
Cohen is seen as their strongest advantage because he has demonstrated a willingness to spend money, and it is believed that he has done this in the past few seasons to bring a champion to Queens.
Furthermore, they will have an extra $150M freed up from their expenses, which is also advantageous. While the Mets have various free agents, such as Pete Alonso and a majority of their starting pitchers, their main focus is undeniably on signing Soto.
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