Whereas it was stated earlier this week that the Toronto Blue Jays “simply is likely to be the” crew that retains Juan Soto from both re-signing with the New York Yankees or becoming a member of the New York Mets in free company, it was subsequently reported that Soto and agent Scott Boras had a “productive” assembly with members of the Boston Pink Sox that lasted roughly three hours on Thursday evening.
For a mailbag printed on Friday, MLB/Mets/Yankees insider Andy Martino of SNY was requested in regards to the Mets’ possibilities of touchdown Soto.
“An excellent likelihood,” Martino responded. “A strong likelihood. A giant likelihood. They’ve the sources, ambition and location. As I’ve reported earlier than, Soto was glad as a Yankee, which provides the incumbent crew a bonus on the outset of free company. But when anybody goes to pry him away from the Bronx, I feel it is going to be [Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns and team owner Steve Cohen]. The Mets are set as much as end both first or second on this sweepstakes.”
Whereas there remain questions on how a lot Yankees proprietor Hal Steinbrenner is keen to spend, contemplating his previous comments in regards to the crew’s general payroll, he believes followers would not tolerate a division rival outbidding the Bronx Bombers for Soto’s providers. Nonetheless, Cohen has the sources to pay greater than another proprietor for a single participant and a historical past of spending big, even when doing so means paying players to carry out elsewhere.
None of this implies Soto will not meet with the Blue Jays or another would-be consumers earlier than he chooses his subsequent MLB house. He’s anticipated to reset the market for place gamers by signing a historic contract this offseason, and Boras probably hopes a bidding battle will drive up the 26-year-old’s value.
Mets icon Carlos Beltran serves as a “particular assistant” to Stearns and recently said the membership “will go full blast for” Soto. That remark and Martino’s replace counsel that Cohen will not settle for the All-Star outfielder taking part in house video games in Boston or Toronto until a type of golf equipment makes the slugger a surprising supply that features greater than $700M in assured cash.
