The impact is massive when you consider Soto’s signing from a 360-degree perspective.
There are many takeaways from Juan Soto’s decision to sign a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets. Rather than focus on the obvious (the dollar cost), let’s consider why this is an excellent move by Mets owner Steve Cohen and for Mets fans.
Courtesy ClutchPoints
STEVE COHEN’S IMPACT: Mets owner Steve Cohen has shown that if he wants something, he’ll get it. He has the Scott Boras connections and capital to do so. He’s demonstrated this by signing players like Francisco Lindor (acquired via trade and given an extension to avoid free agency), Max Scherzer, and Justin Verlander. He’s displayed patience in his pursuit of getting David Stearns to oversee his team’s baseball operations by waiting a year while Stearns’ contract with the Brewers expired. He will stop at nothing to find a way to achieve his objective. That is why he’s earned street cred with his employees and Mets fans. He erased all doubt and confirmed that he was in it to win it. Since buying the team, his actions have spoken louder than words.
The bottom line? The Mets are in a great place under Cohen. He has found stability in his baseball administration with Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza. The franchise has reached the playoffs twice since Cohen’s purchase, and the Mets made it to the NL Championship Series this season. By signing Soto, Cohen has notified players that the Mets are the place to be under his ownership.
Sure, I’ve been critical of Cohen—such as when he fired manager Buck Showalter — but evaluating his ownership shows there’s been more good than bad. With the Dodgers and Yankees exercising their financial might to get what they want, the Mets now have an owner who can spend with the best of them—and then some.
Signing Soto is another seminal moment for the Mets owner. In light of the recent Dodgers’ glory, Cohen had to come up with an answer, and he delivered by signing the Yankee free agent. There’s hope that the Mets are among the few teams that can seriously stand up to the despised Dodgers, and that’s what fans want.
METS ARE NO BRIDESMAID: Here’s another reason to celebrate the signing: the Mets sent a message to the Yankees that they’ll no longer be playing second fiddle to them. Right now, one can make a strong case that New York’s National League team is more popular than its American League counterpart. The Yankees once had established an unassailable foothold—they got who they wanted and when they wanted them. The Wilpons were happy to let the Yankees dominate the city for years. Now, those days are over. And forget dealing with the Dodgers when the most promising players are being pursued.
Graphic courtesy Sports Illustrated
SOTO’S OWN DECISION: Cohen has created an atmosphere where players have a reason to sign with the Mets. It certainly made an impression on Soto this season as a Yankee. He knew what was happening with the Mets, especially since they play across town. Consistently this past season, I’ve had the impression Soto wasn’t exactly enthralled about being a Yankee. He’s been so stoic for so long. He never seemed particularly invested, far from how Jose Iglesias, Sean Manaea, Luis Severino, and Lindor were with the Mets.
Most likely, Soto envied the fun the Mets players were having with every win. He probably couldn’t help but enjoy the Grimace effect that took over the team. It’s not like the Yankees, where the environment is so corporate that it sucks the life out of the team. Moreover, the Yankees don’t have many personalities that enjoy the game. No doubt, the contrast between both teams stood out sharply for Soto.
Looking back, the Mets making it to the NLCS was a seminal moment for this franchise. If they hadn’t had such a notable year, it’s doubtful Soto would’ve signed with them. This is where the Mets felt an opportunity arise—they served notice that they intend to be a team to reckon with.
Pete Alonso (photo courtesy CBS Sports)
MORE MOVES TO COME: The Mets know their efforts can’t just cease now that they’ve signed Soto. There must be common ground regarding the best contract for the team and Pete Alonso. Signing the Mets first baseman must happen. Imagine a lineup in which he joins Soto and Lindor. The Mets know they must match the loaded Dodgers lineup to go to the World Series and win it all. Alonso earned enough respect for the Mets to make a credible offer. Now that they’ve got their man, they should talk to him and his agent, Scott Boras. Also, the Mets need a legitimate starter. Forget Corbin Burnes and Max Fried—they need a starter like Walker Buehler. Resigning Sean Manaea is a must, too.
SOTO SELLS TICKETS: The Mets struggled to draw crowds this past season. Attendance did not pick up until summer. But it’s going to be different this year. The Mets can draw three million at Citi Field with Soto’s presence. They will also draw interest nationally and see increased advertising revenue.
The impact of Soto’s signing is so massive it’s even hard to put a price tag on what it means for the Mets franchise.
