If anybody thought the temperature was going to be turned down within the Juan Soto signing saga after he truly confirmed up in Queens and placed on a New York Mets jersey for the primary time, Thursday rapidly proved that idea mistaken.
In his introductory information convention as a member of the Mets (which you’ll be able to watch in its entirety right here), Soto touched on a wide range of matters, together with why he signed with the Mets over the New York Yankees or every other staff.
“The Mets are an incredible group…what they’ve carried out the previous couple years, to maintain profitable and attempt to develop a dynasty is likely one of the most necessary issues,” Soto mentioned about his option to signal a 15-year, $765 million deal.
It is actually an fascinating viewpoint because it was the Yankees (with Soto) that made all of it the best way to the World Sequence final season, whereas the Mets misplaced out to the eventual World Sequence-winning Dodgers within the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. And, over these previous “couple years” as Soto mentioned, the Yankees are 176-148 (.543), whereas the Mets are 164-160 (.506). Increase that out three years and the Yankees nonetheless maintain the benefit 275-211 (.566) to 265-221 (.545).
If it is about profitable and up to date efficiency, Yankees followers can level to the numbers and marvel the place the Mets precisely had the benefit in Soto’s thoughts.
Nonetheless, one of many extra eye-opening statements by Soto on Thursday was when he acknowledged that he had not talked to any of his former teammates with the Yankees for the reason that World Sequence loss.
It is an fascinating remark as not solely does it cement the actual fact that there have been no conversations along with his former teammates making an attempt to persuade him to remain within the Bronx, but additionally that Soto didn’t attain out to Aaron Choose to congratulate him for profitable American League Most Invaluable Participant honors.
Soto did say on Thursday that he thought-about Choose “a buddy,” but it surely feels like the connection was actually not as shut as Yankees followers might need believed throughout Soto’s pursuit this offseason.
Maybe most crushing and infuriating to Yankees followers of all was a remark from Soto the place he indicated even the most effective effort from the Yankees wasn’t going to be sufficient to carry him again.
“I really feel like they did every thing that they had of their energy to assist me out and produce me again,” Soto mentioned on Thursday. “However I had 4 different groups doing the identical factor…on the finish of the day, we checked out every thing, seemed on the possibilities, what different groups need to do for the subsequent 15 years, and I feel we have now the most effective probability to do it right here.”
In Soto’s thoughts, the long run in Queens was brighter than the one within the Bronx. That thought alone will likely be sufficient to maintain Yankees followers up at evening because the staff continues to seek for a slugger to exchange Soto within the lineup.
