Ex-Marlins President believes "Steve Cohen wants Juan Soto to be son of change" to shift Mets’ 'second class citizens' status to Yankees in New York
Juan Soto's 2024 season with the Yankees showed why he is one of the best offensive players in the MLB. One of the favorites to sign Soto in free agency is the Yankees' hometown rivals, the Mets, who have played second fiddle to the Bronx Bombers for some time in New York.
David Samson, the former President of the Marlins, believes Steve Cohen, the owner of the Mets and the richest one in MLB, wants to change the narrative in New York.
Samson spoke about it on yesterday's episode of his podcast, "Nothing Personal with David Samson."
"Remember what Paul George said about the Clippers when he signed there as a free agent? How he felt as a Clipper before he signed as a free agent with Philadelphia?" Samson said [Timestamp 2:23].
"He said, "We always felt like we were second-class citizens to the Lakers." There's been something going on in New York for decades where people believe that the Mets are the second-class citizens to the Yankees."
Samson believes Cohen sees Juan Soto as integral to his plans to move his team out of the Yankees shadow in New York.
Steve [Cohen] wants to change that, and he wants Juan [Soto] to be the son of that change; the center of that change," said Samson [Timestamp 2:46].
Brian Cashman, the Yankees GM, recently expressed interest in acquiring Pete Alonso, a free agent from the Mets. As such, many believe the Yankees have lost the rat race to acquire Juan Soto. If Alonso indeed signs for the Bronx Bombers, the likelihood of Soto playing for the Mets in 2025 rises exponentially, as 'the Polar Bear' commands a big salary.
Samson believes Steve Cohen should sell his dream to Juan Soto and Scott Boras
The former Marlins President believes Cohen could not just offer a big paycheck to persuade Boras and Soto to acquire the latter's services. According to Samson, the ideal move for Cohen is to sell his dream to the Dominican superstar.
"He's telling Juan Soto and Scott Boras that by the time you are done and you retire and go into the Hall of Fame as a New York Met, the New York Mets will be the team of New York. You don't realize this one, but when we win, and when we win a World Series, this city, this area embraces us in a way that you begin to feel as a Yankee," said Samson [Timestamp 2:57].
The former MLB executive further suggested Cohen put the idea of playing in a dynasty into Juan Soto's mind.
"You want to talk about dynasties? You won a ring with the Nationals, not a dynasty. The Yankees, not a dynasty. Back in '98 and 2000, they were, by winning three in a row. That's dynasty. What we are going to do with the Mets, and that you are going to be a part of, is making the Mets the number one team in New York," Samson added [Timestamp 3:52].
The free agent has its twists and turns. As such, no one can say where Soto will play next. In addition to the Mets and Yankees, the Dodgers and Blue Jays have the means to finance a deal for the Dominican.