After donning his new Mets uniform as an official member of the team, Juan Soto made a bold statement when asked if his record $765 million contract with the Mets makes New York a Mets town. His response, “It’s been a Mets town for a long time,” was sure to provoke Yankees fans across town.
Soto went on to mention that “championships” would ultimately determine which team rules the city. However, by declaring New York a “Mets town,” he invited not only increased pressure but also heightened hostility from Yankees fans.
Fast forward to Sunday, and Soto, who helped the Yankees reach their first World Series since 2009 in the 2024 season, arrived at the Mets’ spring training in Port St. Lucie, Florida. He was asked how he plans to handle the growing pressure and the “hate” from Yankees fans in response to his confident claim. “Winning games,” Soto replied. “That’s all you gotta do. You don’t have to talk too much. You just gotta go out there and get the job done.”
- Juan Soto
The Yankees have made the postseason seven times in the last eight years, while the Mets have only made it twice in the same span. However, the Mets made a strong postseason run last year, securing a wild card spot, defeating the Milwaukee Brewers, upsetting the Philadelphia Phillies, and ultimately falling short to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.
With young talent like Francisco Alvarez and Mark Vientos, along with established stars like Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso, the Mets have a strong core, and their owner is committed to winning. This vision for the future, along with a record-breaking contract, convinced Soto to leave the Yankees and join the Mets. He’ll undoubtedly face the wrath of Yankees fans when the Mets visit the Bronx for a three-game series in May. But Soto is clear on how he intends to handle the animosity.
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