Soto to the Mets: New Big Brother in New York?

Published: Monday, December 9, 2024

by Ryan Nelke

Late Sunday night, the Juan Soto free agency saga finally came to an end as he shocked the baseball world with his decision to leave the Yankees and sign with the crosstown rival Mets on a 15-year, $765 million deal, the most valuable contract in the history of professional sports.

MLB insider Jeff Passan broke the news just after 10 p.m., as he stated on X, “BREAKING: Superstar outfielder Juan Soto and the New York Mets are in agreement on a 15-year, $765 million contract, sources tell ESPN.”

As the historic bidding war for Soto continued, it became clear that the team landing the biggest prize of free agency would have to offer the richest deal not only in baseball but, as Passan noted, in professional sports history. When the dust settled, it was Steve Cohen who made the most intriguing offer, demonstrating that his willingness to spend was not just talk as he emptied the bank for the star outfielder.

Not long later, news rolled in on what Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered to the now-departed superstar.

“The Yankees came up short in their bid for Juan Soto, offering the superstar outfielder one extra year but watching as he opted for the higher average annual value presented by the Mets,” said Andrew Crane, a reporter for the New York Post. “Owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, and the Yankees offered Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to The Post’s Jon Heyman…”

There are several ways to view this news. First, while the gap wasn’t large, failing to retain arguably the best all-around hitter in baseball is an indictment of Hal Steinbrenner and his regime. The Yankees are by far the richest franchise in MLB, so money shouldn’t be an issue. 

If George Steinbrenner were still in charge, there would have been no drama over where Juan Soto would land. George would have written him a blank check and quickly resolved the situation. However, in a statement few Yankees fans expected to hear, they were outbid and now face a significant hole in their lineup.

Another way to look at this is that, yes, Steinbrenner did get outbid, but Soto was willing to leave the most storied club in sports for just $5 million more. This shows he was going wherever the biggest check was written, and hitting alongside Aaron Judge for the rest of his career wasn't as important as the difference between $765 million and $760 million.

For the Bronx Bombers, it will be interesting to see what Steinbrenner and Cashman do in the aftermath of this massive failure. The addition of Soto had elevated them from an 82-80 squad to a World Series appearance. Without him, the lineup raises concerns—especially given their postseason performance. Not only did Aaron Judge continue to struggle in October, but players like Jazz Chisholm, Austin Wells, Gleyber Torres, and others were also underwhelming. 

When you can’t rely on Juan Soto for a clutch hit, who will the Yankees turn to now?

For the Mets, it's nothing but joy and jubilation in Queens as they add the best clutch hitter in baseball to an already solid lineup. Soto not only delivers throughout the regular season but also has a knack for big hits in October, making him the go-to player in key moments. There's a good chance Pete Alonso has played his last game in blue and orange, but this lineup now features the likes of Francisco Lindor, Mark Vientos, Francisco Alvarez, and their latest addition, Juan Soto.

At the end of the day, it appears the Yankees' days of getting the player they want at the price they choose are over, as Steve Cohen has changed the Big Brother/Little Brother narrative. All the talk of Cohen outbidding any potential offer proved true, and the highest offer was what it took for the native Dominican to leave town. He is now the one writing Juan Soto’s checks and will have him playing at Citi Field for the remainder of his career.

Ryan Nelke can be reached at ryan.nelke@student.shu.edu. 

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