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Yankees Exec: Juan Soto Signing Mets Contract in MLB Free Agency Would Be ‘Buzzkill’ | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors
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Yankees Exec: Juan Soto Signing Mets Contract in MLB Free Agency Would Be ‘Buzzkill’ | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 24: Juan Soto #22 of the New York Yankees reacts during batting practice on training day ahead of Game 1 of the 2024 World Series at Dodger Stadium on October 24, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images

New York Yankees outfielder Juan Soto is an impending free agent, and the New York Mets have been closely linked to him as a possible landing spot.

That would undoubtedly be a huge blow to the Yankees, and one front office executive had this to say about it to Jon Heyman of the New York Post.

“Going from the Yankees to the Mets … that’s a buzzkill,” the executive said.

Soto, who just turned 26 years old, is a four-time All-Star. He led the American League with 128 runs while adding 41 home runs, 109 RBI and a .989 OPS.

Soto was also exceptional in the playoffs, especially when he hit a three-run homer in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series to lead the Yanks to a 5-2, 10-inning victory over the Cleveland Guardians. That lifted New York to its first AL pennant in 15 years.

He landed in New York last offseason in a blockbuster trade with the San Diego Padres. Given his stellar regular season and playoffs, it’s entirely possible he lands the second-richest contract in MLB history, behind only Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal.

Heyman reported earlier in October that the new ‘whisper number’ for Soto is $600 million. At this point, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Soto achieved that goal, and the Mets could be very willing to offer that amount.

Mets owner Steve Cohen has not been shy about spending large amounts of money during his short tenure. The team has topped the MLB payroll each year for the past two seasons.

Ultimately, Heyman wonders if the Yanks could join the Mets in a bidding war.

“Despite all that, the Yankees want to keep him. Heck, every team should want him and many will bid for him. But I believe Hal Steinbrenner is serious about trying to move the Yankees away from a $300 million-plus payroll, and so he’ll probably say “uncle” in a mano-a-mano bidding war with Uncle Stevie But will Cohen pull out all the stops?

We’ll find out soon enough how seriously the Mets are willing to pry Soto from the Yanks. Of course, he would have to have other suitors too. The San Francisco Giants have been mentioned as a suitor, according to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com. And multiple MLB.com reporters posited the Washington Nationals, Soto’s old team.

Soto once turned down a 15-year contract worth $440 million to stay with the Nationals before later being traded to San Diego. That turned out to be a wise financial move as he will earn a lot more this season.

The question is whose, but right now Soto and the Yankees are focused on winning the franchise’s first World Series since 2009, which starts Friday for Game 1 at the Los Angeles Dodgers.