If anybody thought the temperature was going to be turned down within the Juan Soto signing saga after he truly confirmed up in Queens and placed on a New York Mets jersey for the primary time, Thursday shortly proved that principle unsuitable.
In his introductory information convention as a member of the Mets (which you’ll watch in its entirety right here), Soto touched on a wide range of subjects, together with why he signed with the Mets over the New York Yankees or every other workforce.
“The Mets are an ideal group…what they’ve executed the previous couple years, to maintain successful and attempt to develop a dynasty is without doubt one of the most necessary issues,” Soto stated about his option to signal a 15-year, $765 million deal.
It is actually an attention-grabbing viewpoint because it was the Yankees (with Soto) that made all of it the best way to the World Collection final season, whereas the Mets misplaced out to the eventual World Collection-winning Dodgers within the Nationwide League Championship Collection. And, over these previous “couple years” as Soto stated, the Yankees are 176-148 (.543), whereas the Mets are 164-160 (.506). Broaden that out three years and the Yankees nonetheless maintain the benefit 275-211 (.566) to 265-221 (.545).
If it is about successful and up to date efficiency, Yankees followers can level to the numbers and surprise the place the Mets precisely had the benefit in Soto’s thoughts.
Nonetheless, one of many extra eye-opening statements by Soto on Thursday was when he acknowledged that he had not talked to any of his former teammates with the Yankees for the reason that World Collection loss.
It is an attention-grabbing remark as not solely does it cement the actual fact that there have been no conversations along with his former teammates attempting to persuade him to remain within the Bronx, but additionally that Soto didn’t attain out to Aaron Choose to congratulate him for successful American League Most Worthwhile Participant honors.
Soto did say on Thursday that he thought of Choose “a good friend,” however it seems like the connection was actually not as shut as Yankees followers may need believed throughout Soto’s pursuit this offseason.
Maybe most crushing and infuriating to Yankees followers of all was a remark from Soto the place he indicated even the perfect effort from the Yankees wasn’t going to be sufficient to convey him again.
“I really feel like they did every part that they had of their energy to assist me out and convey me again,” Soto stated on Thursday. “However I had 4 different groups doing the identical factor…on the finish of the day, we checked out every part, seemed on the possibilities, what different groups need to do for the subsequent 15 years, and I feel we’ve got the perfect probability to do it right here.”
In Soto’s thoughts, the long run in Queens was brighter than the one within the Bronx. That thought alone might be sufficient to maintain Yankees followers up at night time because the workforce continues to seek for a slugger to switch Soto within the lineup.
