Juan Soto Joins the Mets: A Franchise-Changing Move

The New York Mets have made a historic addition to their roster, signing outfielder Juan Soto to the largest contract in MLB history. This move is seen as a game-changer for the franchise, underlining their commitment to building a dynasty.

When asked about his decision to join the Mets, Soto praised the organization for its ambition and recent success. "The Mets are a great organization, and what they have done in the past couple of years – showing all the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try to grow a dynasty – is one of the most important things," Soto said. He added that the future potential of the team played a significant role in his decision.

The magnitude of Soto's contract, which is the largest in MLB history, marks a monumental day for the Mets. Team owner Steve Cohen highlighted the significance of the signing, stating, "It’s obviously a huge move. It just puts an accent on what we’re trying to do. It accelerates our goal of winning championships."

Cohen also emphasized his long-term vision for the franchise. "My goal was to change how the Mets were viewed. And I think we’re really on the path of changing that. We’re never gonna stop. We’re always in a constant state of improvement."

Soto joins the Mets after a career year with the Yankees, where he hit .288 with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a .989 OPS during the regular season. He also excelled in the playoffs, posting a 1.101 OPS in 14 games as the Yankees reached the World Series. 

The Mets, who made their own deep playoff run before falling to the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series, are poised for significant turnover with 14 players reaching free agency. However, Soto is confident in the foundation that Cohen and President of Baseball Operations David Stearns have in place. "What they showed me, and how the organization runs things, and how they’re gonna manage things, and how they look at their future – that was one of the things that opened my eyes a little bit more," Soto said.

Soto believes that the Mets have the best chances to win now and in the future. "At the end of the day, we looked at everything ... we looked at what other teams wanted to do and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years, and I think we have the best chances to win here," he concluded.