"Don't know if Steve Cohen gonna offer $150,000,000 more" - Ex-Yankees 4x All-Star confident Juan Soto will re-sign despite Mets interest
Juan Soto will soon enter free agency and is the biggest name available for MLB teams to scoop up. Due to his relatively young age and immense talent, all signs point to a record-breaking contract. As such, only a few teams like the New York Yankees, where Soto currently plays, New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and San Francisco Giants seem interested in the Dominican.
The Yankees are the frontrunners to re-sign Soto, with the Mets also likely to be in contention for the former World Series champion's signature. However, 4x All-Star pitcher Dellin Betances, who played for the Yankees and Mets, is confident in seeing Juan Soto in pinstripes in the upcoming season.
On Saturday's episode of the "Pinstripes Territory" podcast, Dellin Betances weighed in on where Juan Soto might land in free agency - Yankees or Mets? after being asked about it by host Derek Levandowski. [0:40]
"Well, the Yankees had the leg up, right? They had this whole year for him [Juan Soto] to see how it is to play in Yankee Stadium, probably one of the best places to play in...They're trying to put the best product out there, and Soto’s feeling the energy all year, had a tremendous year. So, the Yankees have a leg up there," said Betances.
However, Betances knows that billionaire Steve Cohen, the Mets owner, has the means to make a higher bid for Soto than the Yankees. The Mets already have the biggest payroll in the 2024 season. The former 4x All-Star also knows that money will be a big incentive for Soto, on the same line as being on a great team. [1:10]
"Obviously, the money, at the end of the day, is what's going to take to kind of put the final touches to that, and, you know, I feel like he'll stay with the Yankees, to be honest with you. I think that they'll do the right thing and, you know, put a good amount of money out there for him," said Betances.
"And, you know, I don't know if Steve Cohen is gonna be like, 'All right, I'm just gonna offer $150 million more than you guys,' right? I mean, he can definitely do it. [It's] Steve Cohen, but I will pick the Yankees to sign him," said Betances.
MLB insider ranks potential suitors for Juan Soto
Veteran MLB insider Jon Heyman ranked the potential suitors for Juan Soto in free agency in an interview with Bleacher Report on October 10.
Heyman believes the Yankees are the favorites to keep Soto's services going forward. He believes Soto's enjoyable time in Yankee Stadium will play a part in his decision. The veteran insider ranked the Mets as the second choice because of the money they possess.
After placing the Yankees and Mets at the top of the list of potential landing spots for Juan Soto, Heyman identified the Blue Jays, SF Giants, and LA Dodgers as the next group of favorites. Heyman also mentioned the Red Sox, Cubs, and Phillies as longshots in the Soto sweepstakes.
Former Marlins President David Samson had earlier claimed that money would only be the motivating factor for Soto. As such, he predicted that the Dominican will sign with any team that offers a deal close to $700,000,000.