"Mets offered Yoshinobu Yamamoto the most money" - Pundit argues Juan Soto deserves same aggressive approach from Steve Cohen in free agency
Juan Soto's free agency is going to be one of the most talked about topics in the offseason with several teams linked with the All-Star slugger who is coming off a career-best year with the New York Yankees.
One team that has been heavily linked with the Dominican star is the Yankees' city rivals the New York Mets. Steve Cohen's team is reportedly one of the admirers of the one-time World Series winner but will face stiff competition from the Yankees, who are hoping to bring back Soto for the long haul after his heroics this year.
MLB fan and host of the "Subway to Shea" podcast, Anthony Rivera urged the Mets to approach Soto's free agency aggressively as they did with Yoshinobu Yamamoto last offseason.
He said (4:36 onwards):
"I think the Mets should be all in on Juan Soto. If you remember last year the Mets offered Yoshinobu Yamamoto the most money to come to the team although he ended up going to the Dodgers for the same price."
"That's the type of player (Soto) you give the most money and give them years as well. He is a franchise player, he is a kid that is probably top five, top 10 in MLB. If there is anyone I'm going to give the money to and open the checkbooks for, it's going to Juan Soto."
The Mets reportedly offered a 12-year, $325 million deal to Japanese pitching sensation Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the offseason. However, Yamamoto, one of the hottest free agents last year, joined his compatriot Shohei Ohtani at the Los Angeles Dodgers for a similar deal.
Juan Soto's agent Scott Boras reveals negotiations with late Padres owner
Although Juan Soto's stocks have risen following his stellar showing in the Yankees run through the World Series which ultimately ended in heartbreak, the 25-year-old would have never made the switch to the Bronx if not for his former team San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler's death.
As per Soto's agent Scott Boras, they were "knee-deep" in discussion over an extension for the All-Star slugger.
“If (Padres owner) Peter Seidler were still alive," Boras told USA TODAY Sports last week. “None of this would be happening. Juan would have been with the Padres. He never would have been traded to the Yankees."
However, Seidler's death in November 2023 halted that negotiations and Soto ended up being traded to the Yankees with one year remaining on his contract.
While the Mets are one of the teams contending for Juan Soto's signature, the Yankees fanbase is urging the Bronx Bombers to break the bank to bring back Soto.