"I hope Juan Soto breaks every record when it comes to getting paid" - Yankees slugger garners immense praise from Shohei Ohtani's NL-MVP rival
Juan Soto's free agency is expected to be as interesting as Shohei Ohtani's last season. The outfielder is one of the best at-bats in the league and benefits from his age (25 years).
Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor, who is battling Ohtani for the NL MVP title, hopes the Dominican native will receive a record-breaking contract. Lindor, in a chat with ESPN's Jeff Passan, expressed the possible thrill of having Soto in the same lineup.
"When it comes to the outfielder from across our borough," Lindor said. "He's having a fantastic year and I hope he goes out there and breaks every record out there when it comes to getting paid. If it's with us, it'll be fantastic. He'll help us a lot."
Soto is hitting .296 with 95 RBIs and 37 home runs this season. He is on track for a career-high season, having already achieved it in the home runs category. The 25-year-old has been traded twice in his career, from the Washington Nationals to the San Diego Padres, and is yet to sign a long-term deal with any club.
Yankees vs. Mets: Who is best positioned to sign Juan Soto?
Both New York clubs, the Yankees and the Mets, are rumored to be interested in signing Juan Soto.
Having Soto in their ranks one year before his free agency has made it complicated for the Yankees. They know Soto is comfortable in the Bronx and will be willing to re-sign with the club, but if they are unable to offer him a solid contract, the entire lineup's pressure will fall back on Aaron Judge.
This is where the Mets, who have in the past gone big to sign players, are better placed to sign Soto. They have only committed $141.8 million to their 2025 roster so far compared to the Yankees, who sit at $202.2 million. This $60 million is expected to be the biggest factor that may separate the two contracts.
There are also other teams in the fray to get Soto but the New York teams remain the biggest bidders at the moment.