Will the New York Mets pursue Juan Soto in free agency after the 2024 season? It is quite possible that they will try to sign him, but Soto may be hesitant to join the ball club.
“We know money talks, right? Juan Soto, represented by Scott Boras, is going to the highest bidder,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said during a recent appearance on Foul Territory. “And if the Mets are the highest bidder, maybe they get Juan Soto. Two things. One, the Mets need more than Juan Soto… Two, Juan Soto is no dummy. He sees what's going on over there. He sees what has gone on the past couple of years and really for quite a bit longer than that. So okay, maybe the Mets offer him the most money but maybe he then goes to the Yankees, a team that has had more success… If I'm Juan Soto, I'm thinking twice about this whole thing.”
The Mets have endured drama and bad luck. Additionally, they have had trouble in regards to finding ways to win on a consistent basis.
Soto wants to win. He surely would like to join a team that does not have a history of drama and non-baseball storylines as well. With that being said, the idea of joining forces with stars like Francisco Lindor, Kodai Senga, and possibly Pete Alonso (depending on if he re-signs with the Mets) may catch Soto's attention.
Rosenthal also said that Soto will likely end up signing with the “highest bidder.” Perhaps offering Soto the most money will lead to him joining the Mets.
Regardless of where he ends up, Juan Soto is going to receive a lucrative amount of money in MLB free agency.
Juan Soto building case for lucrative contract
At just 25 years old and with a proven track record, Soto could have struggled in 2024 and still earned an impressive contract in free agency. But Soto has made the adjustment to playing in New York with the Yankees without much trouble. The three-time All-Star is currently slashing .312/.412/.578/.990 across 57 games played.
Soto leads the league in OBP (.412), total bases (126), games played (57), and at-bats (260). He has also already hit 15 home runs and 11 doubles to go along with 46 RBI.
Soto will draw MVP consideration in 2024. He is playing at an elite level despite being younger than many other superstars in the big leagues. The Yankees missed the playoffs in 2023, but adding Soto has clearly helped to improve the ball club. New York currently leads the American League East with a 38-19 record. In fact, the Yankees have the best record in the entire American League as of this story's writing.
Mets, Yankees among possible Soto landing destinations
A number of teams have been mentioned as possible landing destinations for Juan Soto. The Yankees and Mets are certainly in the conversation.
The Mets, however, hold a 22-33 record right now. They are closer to rebuilding than being in the sweepstakes for a star like Soto.
Now could they opt to try to sign Soto and rebuild around him? Of course, but again, Soto may have more interest in signing with a ball club that feature enough talent to win in 2025.
Soto seems to enjoy playing with the Yankees. He probably will not sign a contract extension with them before free agency, but it would not be surprising to see Soto re-sign with the Yankees in free agency.
At the moment, Juan Soto is focused on playing at a high level for the Yankees. His upcoming free agency will be intriguing to follow without question, however.
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