Will Juan Soto sign with cross-town rival NY Mets over Yankees in free agency?

Will Juan Soto cave to the Mets' persuasion over their meeting before the Yankees, or will he stay in the Bronx?

Will Juan Soto sign with cross-town rival NY Mets over Yankees in free agency?

Juan Soto (Image via NJ)

The two biggest rivals and blockbuster teams in MLB – the New York Yankees, and New York Mets are fighting for Juan Soto in free agency. While there are several other teams interested in pitching in, these two take the top spots undoubtedly.

Both being rivals have further heated up the free agency tables as Soto declared he’s not exclusive to any one team after a World Series loss. He’ll be open to speaking with all 30 MLB teams and deciding his future course.

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Amidst the chaos, the Yankees have offered him 1-year $21.05 million, which mostly everyone is expecting he’ll reject. Coming off of a stellar 2024 performance, Soto will long for a long-term contract for stability. 

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The outfielder is not only looking for financial stability but also a team that can fight for a World Series spot in 2025. Although the pinstripes lost the Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Soto got a solid resume to take into free agency tables.

Mets owner Steve Cohen is supposed to meet with Juan Soto this week, but first in line are the Toronto Blue Jays. Soon after Cohen and Soto’s meeting was finalized, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner scheduled his own flight.

He’ll be joined by NY Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone to meet Soto and his agent Scott Boras in Southern California. There were also rumors of the Yankees keeping an eye on Mets superstar Pete Alonso who has also hit free agency.

In case the team loses Soto to any of their rival teams, they may go after Alonso to fill the hole. While Soto’s absence can’t be fulfilled by any player, Pete Alonso will be a fine addition to the team.

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Many are convinced that Soto will remain in NY, but with which team is the question? He may want to start new with the Mets or stay in the Bronx where he’s familiar. Either way, he’s contract is expected to be long term with $600 million rumored.

LA Dodgers won’t chase Juan Soto in free agency

As per ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the Los Angeles Dodgers who were rumored to also be on the lookout for Juan Soto, will avoid this fight. They’ll not be chasing after the superstar as Shohei Ohtani’s presence “will leave them with limited options” on the team.

Juan Soto
Juan Soto (Image via Newsweek)

Furthermore, they are already linked to being “heavy favorites” for Japanese ace pitcher Roki Sasaki. Adding players of high calibers one after the other is bound to weigh on the pockets. 

Currently, the Yankees, Mets, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays seem to be on the top list for Juan Soto’s acquisition. Soto may want to come back to the Bronx as they advanced to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. 

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Moreover, he is an absolute fan favorite. Even during the regular season and postseason, fans were waving signs and chanting to “re-sign Soto”. While the Yankees have backup plans for Soto, their priority will remain to bring him back and give the World Series another shot in 2025.