Juan Soto is nearing crucial meetings with both New York teams as he explores his future in Major League Baseball.
Steve Cohen, the owner of the New York Mets, will meet with Soto and his agent Scott Boras next week in Southern California, sources confirmed to Mike Puma of the New York Post. This meeting marks the first time the Mets have sat down with the 26-year-old outfielder as they look to bring him to Queens after his season with the New York Yankees.
Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the Yankees, has also scheduled a meeting with Soto’s camp following Cohen’s talks. While the date is still to be confirmed, Steinbrenner is expected to travel to California within the next week and a half, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
Soto, who hit .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and an American League-high 128 runs scored in his first season with the Yankees, is reportedly seeking what could be the largest contract in MLB history. Despite the high price tag, both New York owners seem undeterred. Cohen, who is the richest individual owner in baseball, has spent heavily since purchasing the Mets in 2020 and will have more financial flexibility this winter, with over $90 million in dead money coming off the books.
The Yankees, who traded five players to acquire Soto from the San Diego Padres last winter, are hoping to keep him in the Bronx long-term. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said that while he has already been in touch with Boras and plans to continue discussions, Steinbrenner’s involvement might be less intense than that of other owners due to Soto’s familiarity with the team.
“Since (Soto) knows us, we are standing ready to meet with him if he feels it necessary to meet with us,” Cashman said at the GM meetings this week. “He understands the landscape of opportunities that now exist for himself. He’s played in San Diego. He’s played in Washington. Now he’s played here. So we are more than willing to meet as many times as he would like to meet.”
Beyond the Mets and Yankees, several other teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays, have reportedly made inquiries about Soto’s availability. However, the Mets and Yankees are widely seen as the frontrunners for his signature.
In the meantime, Soto’s free-agent tour is expected to continue with further meetings over the coming weeks, with his agent coordinating talks with other team owners. Since his rookie season in 2018, Soto has been one of MLB’s top performers, with only Aaron Judge accumulating more fWAR than him.
