The New York Mets took a significant step in their pursuit of free agent superstar Juan Soto over the weekend, holding a high-profile meeting with the slugger out in California.
The gathering, described as a “big production” and “very detailed,” was well-received by Soto’s team, according to Jon Heyman of The New York Post.
“One person suggested the Mets are ‘hopeful’ – and maybe even optimistic – about their chances to win easily the biggest prize of this free-agent class,” Heyman wrote.
Mets owner Steve Cohen led a delegation of top officials, including president of baseball operations David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza.
The group left the meeting feeling confident about their bid for the 26-year-old outfielder, who is expected to command a record-breaking contract north of $600 million.
The Mets face stiff competition for Soto, including the Yankees – Soto’s current former team – the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Dodgers. However, the Mets seemingly have a financial advantage in the sweepstakes.
The Mets head into the offseason with only $150 million in payroll commitments, roughly $190 million below their 2024 season-ending figure.
With the Competitive Balance Tax threshold set at $241 million for 2025, the team has nearly $90 million available for arbitration-eligible players and free-agent acquisitions before exceeding the luxury tax line.
Cohen, the wealthiest owner in Major League Baseball, has shown little concern about exceeding the so-called “Cohen Tax,” a penalty for teams significantly surpassing the CBT threshold.
With the Mets considered legitimate World Series contenders, this offseason may be the perfect time for Cohen to leverage his financial resources and make a monster splash.
The Yankees also feel good about their chances at securing Soto. However, they face a more constrained financial situation.
Their projected payroll commitments for 2025 sit at $237 million, leaving little room under the CBT without additional spending cuts or trades.
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner has signaled a more cautious approach, noting that the team cannot sustain the $314 million payroll it carried in 2024.
Unlike his father, Hal watches his wallet with an eagle eye and isn’t nearly as aggressive with the team’s spending.
Speaking of spending, the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers aren’t afraid to do whatever they feel is necessary to field the best team they possibly can.
Although they’re already loaded, LA can’t be discounted in the Soto sweepstakes. They are set to meet with him later this week.
Getting back to the Mets, there’s nothing their fanbase would love more than to sign Soto – not just for what he’d bring to the team, but what the loss of him would mean for the hated crosstown rival Yankees.
At the end of the day, where do you think Soto will end up and what type of contract will he get???