Mets Showed Soto The $$$

Photo: Special to the NY Beacon

By Matthew Kennedy 

For almost a century the New York Yankees stood alone at the summit of North American sports. Not only was their financial backing unmatched, but they had a certain aura around them that convinced both players and fans of each new generation to bet on them. They signed the biggest names, made the boldest moves, and time and time again proved that in baseball, cash is king. Not only did the Bombers draft and sign elite prospects like Mickey Mantle, Thurman Munson, and Derek Jeter, they also consistently singled out the right star players for trades and in free agency that almost always paid off in championship rings. From Reggie Jackson to Paul O’Neill to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees ability to play their cards right and go “all in” on the right piece has been crucial to their unparalleled success. 

But the landscape in New York has shifted. The Yankees’ perennial shadow, the New York Mets, now stand poised to challenge the status quo. Under the ownership of Steve Cohen, the Mets refuse to settle for mediocrity in a city that demands greatness. Their most audacious move yet? Luring Juan Soto—one of the game’s brightest stars—away from their crosstown rivals with a record-shattering $765 million, 15-year contract. At just 26, Soto is already a World Series champion and a lock for the Hall of Fame. Though his lone season in the Bronx helped the Yankees reach their first World Series in 15 years, it is the Mets who have secured his talents for the rest of his career. In many ways, this signing feels like the Mets taking a page from the Yankees’ playbook, going “all in” to rewrite their legacy.

For the Mets, Steve Cohen’s era has brought unprecedented ambition and a willingness to spend big, matched by a newfound confidence to win over a loyal fan base. Despite a decade of free-agent misfires, fate seemed to smile on the Mets last season, rewarding their boldness with an unexpected trip to the NLCS. Ironically, that playoff run was driven less by high-priced stars and more by under-the-radar contributors (aside from Francisco Lindor) and a core of affordable yet clutch performers.

The decision to invest so heavily in Soto is undoubtedly a gamble, but it’s a move Yankees fans know all too well. For decades, the Bronx Bombers thrived on similar risks, while the Mets languished as spectators to their success. Even in the 2000 Subway Series, the Mets were never truly seen as a threat, further encapsulating the Yankees refusal to take them seriously. Now, however, Mets fans see this moment as karmic justice—a long-overdue shift in the power dynamic between the two franchises. For a team that spent generations as New York’s punchline, stealing the Yankees’ thunder feels like poetic retribution. 

But it all doesn’t matter unless the Mets win a title, and that’s something they haven’t done since 1986. Big bucks or not, World Series are won mostly by grit, determination, and a certain gene that can’t quite be put into words – and certainly cannot be bought. We will see if the Mets have it this year. One thing is for sure though: Juan Soto has gone from perhaps the most beloved player in the Bronx to public enemy #1. His betrayal can never – and will never – be forgiven.