Mets’ Baseball Executive Confirms Club’s Aggressive Pursuit for Soto
New York Mets – Carlos Beltran, special assistant to the Mets’ President of Baseball Operations, David Stearns – has confirmed the club’s aggressive pursuit for superstar free agent Juan Soto ahead of their meeting this week in California.
”The Mets want to improve the team and there is no doubt that they will go after all the players that are on the open market, knowing that the piece that everyone wants is Juan Soto,” Beltran said. “And the Mets do not rule out going full blast after him.” Beltran reiterated when speaking with reporters at a charity pickleball tournament in Puerto Rico on Wednesday, according to Primera Hora.
This comes as no surprise given the Mets are one of the first teams scheduled to meet with Juan Soto and his agent Scott Boras this offseason, with executives traveling to California this week. Soto himself stated he is open to meeting with all of MLB’s teams, but it’s been reported that he’s expected to sign where the highest contract is offered.
Whatever it Takes
Juan Soto is projected to sign for seven-plus years with a value north of $650 million.
With a net worth of $21.3 billion, an aggressive pursuit of the most coveted free agent in baseball – AND an additional $180 million coming off the books for 2025 from free agents and dead money – Ya Gotta Believe Mets owner Steve Cohen will be the highest bidder.
“When he tells the press that he wants to win, he doesn’t say it to rile up fans. It’s personal for him,” Beltran said of Cohen.
Career Year
Soto is coming off a career-year in his first season with the New York Yankees – The 2024 Silver Slugger Award Winner is also an American League MVP finalist. For the season, he put up a position-player fWAR of 8.1 and slashed .288/.419/.569, slugging a career-high 41 home runs with 109 RBI.
Soto is one of the league’s most consistent hitters – And when he’s “not” – He’s one of the most walked (129 times in 2024 alone).
“Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Juan Soto”
Mets Heart & Hustle Nominee, 2024 Silver Slugger Award Winner, and National League MVP-Finalist Francisco Lindor was spotted at LAX this week with reports of him being an influential piece to the Soto/Boras/Cohen/etc. meeting.
Francisco Lindor Touches Down In L.A. As Mets' California Meeting W/ Juan Soto Looms | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/YWjp0OVAwJ
— TMZ (@TMZ) November 12, 2024
Lindor is arguably one of the most clutch players in the league, consistently delivering when desperately needed – Soto is of that class as well. They’re two generational talents.
Thankfully, the Stearns/Cohen duo is ready to do “all things necessary” to sign Juan Soto.
Juan Soto cares for Francisco Lindor like a brother.pic.twitter.com/ARqTQjjuKR
— Ben Yoel (@Ben_Yoel) November 13, 2024
At 26, you can’t even imagine the level to which he’d evolve to under the leadership of a player like Lindor. He’s already shown us how big his heart is for our Kings of Queens. With Soto and Lindor together in Queens – They’d be one of the best and most elite duos of all time – The duo that’d bring a World Series trophy back to New York.
