The New York Yankees made sure they convinced Juan Soto to stay by their side. The deal was often more complicated than it could seem. Five teams, including the Yankees, were in the race to acquire the star outfielder. Soto saw, accessed, and considered all the reasoning before finally saying yes to the New York Mets.
The Yankees found themselves in an awkward situation after the trade was done and drafted. They are faced with pressing needs, particularly in the outfield and infield positions. Needless to say, the team’s desperation to add a big name to their roster is now in the hands of general manager Brian Cashman.
Cashman has a list of corrections to make at both second and third base. The first go-to approach is to make signings that make the most sense for the lineup. And with such constraints in play, players like Cody Bellinger, Kyle Tucker, and Alex Bregman are the most sustainable options.
Be it all the above three names or not, the Yankees front office has to be cautious about the risk of acquiring a player who could turn into a short-term rental. The Bronx must weigh in, packing a solid all-around lineup and a strong Plan B after the missed Soto opportunity.
Also Read: BREAKING: Juan Soto Shatters MLB Record With $765,000,000 Contract With The New York Mets
Juan Soto Emphasised On His Reasons For Joining The Mets
Brian Cashman and his management offered Juan Soto a 16-year, $760 million contract but still found themselves empty-handed. The lefty favored a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets instead. If seen from a broader perspective, the deal has ultimately helped the Yankees avoid any financial constraints. He is wisely exploring potential free agency names and any sensible trade option to cash out.
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Soto has some plans for his future, as he will start fresh at the Mets camp. At the signing event, he expressed his belief in the Mets’ capability to build a “dynasty.” While he diplomatically downplayed the rivalry in his introductory press conference, he mentioned the long-term plan with his new team.
“I don’t think it was the Mets over the Yankees, I think it was five teams that were right there on the table. I don’t think it had anything to do with the Mets over the Yankees. The Mets are a great organization and what they’ve done in the past couple of years — showing the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try to grow a dynasty — it was one of the most important things to me,” Juan Soto said at the introductory press conference.
Juan Soto is asked why he chose to join the Mets:
— SNY (@SNYtv) December 12, 2024
"The Mets is a great organization. They have all of the ability to keep winning, to try to grow a dynasty. What you were seeing from the other side was unbelievable." pic.twitter.com/RwZiqFQkKc
The Mets boast a slightly higher projected offensive WAR but lag behind the Yankees in pitching projections. The Yankees are coming off a strong showing where they won the AL East and ultimately lost in the World Series.
However, both teams will aim for championship titles in the coming time, and such trade bargaining will only intensify the rivalry. The Mets’ long-term vision is secured through 2039 after they have Soto at the helm.
Also Read: Why Are The Mets Paying Juan Soto $765 Million? Breaking Down The Biggest Deal In Sports History
