"Steve Cohen is holding his checkbook" - Juan Soto's future amid Mets-Yankees dilemma draws interesting reaction from former baseball pro
Juan Soto has plenty of suitors in free agency, but most pundits and analysts believe it will come down to either the New York Yankees or New York Mets. New York was home to Soto this year, and the proximity to the Dominican Republic helps. Former MLB player Trevor May has just one thing that interests him in the negotiation process.
May said:
"He's a New York guy through and through. ... Hal Steinbrenner's like, 'I don't know if we can do that' and Steve Cohen's holding his checkbook. ... That's where the difference is for me. I think if Juan Soto could choose anywhere, 'I'm going to go back to the Bronx. This is my personality in a franchise.'"
The former Minnesota Twins star believes it just makes sense, and that Soto could become a legend playing for the Yankees. The former player also admitted that Cohen and the Mets are a true Wild Card with their money to spend. Ultimately, May believes Soto will be a Yankee.
According to SNY's Andy Martino, the current feeling is that the Yankees don't have to outbid the Mets or anyone else. The Yankees just have to get close and give Soto a "fair offer" and he'll go back since he loved playing there in 2024.
Juan Soto taking time in free agency
Don't expect Juan Soto to sign any time soon. The free agency process in baseball is typically slow, and Soto will have quite a few prospective teams to meet with. He will presumably meet with several of them multiple times.
Per his own agent, it's going to take a while. Scott Boras said, via ESPN:
"Due to the volume of interest and Juan's desire to hear [from teams], I can't put a timeframe on it, but it's going to be a very thorough process for him. He wants to meet people personally. He wants to talk with them. He wants to hear from them."
Boras also acknowledged that winning is important. He said Soto wants to know a team is going to be committed to winning year in and year out and learn what they can provide in the short term and the long term.