The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know that his future with them could be certain.
When the free-agent outfielder visited owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, California, for a presentation last month, the team showed him a video that included an image of a future Soto statue outside Citi Field, placed next to the one of legendary player Tom Seaver.
“Everything that they showed me, what they have, what they want to do, it was incredible,” Soto said. “But my favorite part was the video.”
Soto was introduced at Citi Field on Thursday, a day after finalizing his record $765 million, 15-year contract. During the event, he stood next to Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns, and agent Scott Boras. Security personnel, dressed in gray suits with earpieces, were present off to the side.
Soto, led by Boras, entered wearing a dark suit, black turtleneck shirt, and gold chain with his No. 22. He chose the Mets over the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, and Toronto Blue Jays.
His deal includes a luxury suite, four premium tickets for home games, all for free, and personal team security for Soto and his family during all spring training and regular-season home and away games.
“My family is really important for me. Without them, I probably wouldn’t have been here,” Soto said. “It’s one of the biggest things.”
Boras had asked for these extra perks. “We included it at the beginning,” Cohen said. “He made a request and we were happy to provide.”
The Yankees, who made it to the World Series for the first time since 2009 partly because of Soto, rejected the idea.
“Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” general manager Brian Cashman said.
Cohen bought the Mets before the 2021 season and has built the team up to the highest payroll in baseball, aiming for the team’s first title since 1986, the year when the World Series MVP, like Soto, wore No. 22 — Ray Knight. The owner thanked his son, Josh, for helping create the video and praised his 93-year-old father-in-law Ralph for attending the first meeting with Soto.
While other teams met Soto at the Pendry Newport Beach, a hotel just five minutes from Boras Corp.’s office, Cohen wanted to host the meeting at one of his homes.
“If we’re going to some restaurant, I didn’t know what the atmosphere would be,” Cohen said. “Food’s better at my house.”
Cohen and Soto met again the next day at another one of Cohen’s homes in Boca Raton, Florida. Soto asked how many championships Cohen expected over the next decade.
“I said I’d like to win two to four,” Cohen said.
Soto’s contract is now bigger than Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers last December. It is also longer than Fernando Tatis Jr.’s $340 million, 14-year agreement with San Diego, which runs through 2034. The 26-year-old Soto batted .288 with 41 homers, 109 RBIs, and 129 walks this year, and has a .285 career average with 201 homers, 592 RBIs, and 769 walks over seven seasons with Washington, San Diego, and the Yankees.
Boras wouldn’t say who came in second in Soto’s decision.
“When you’re at a wedding, you don’t talk about the bridesmaids,” he said.
Soto made his decision on Sunday while at home with his family. Boras called the group the “Soto Supreme Court,” which includes “mother, sister, father — he’s got a wide group. I think he may have eight or nine uncles.”
“My information requests and such were rather unique,” Boras said, explaining that his team asked for OPS by ballpark. Soto’s 1.175 OPS at Citi Field is his highest at any stadium where he’s played 15 or more games.
Soto mentioned Cohen’s close relationship with Mets stars Francisco Lindor and Edwin Díaz as a factor in his decision.
“They are kind of like (a tight) family, a family that wants to win but they definitely want to take care of their players and their families,” Soto said.
Cohen had his wife, Alex, and father-in-law attend the first meeting to show the importance of family.
“My father-in-law is at every game, every home game,” Cohen said. “I wanted him to see how important baseball is to this family. And Alex grew up with one TV in an apartment and that Met game was on every night.”
Cohen enjoys owning the Mets. He spoke earlier in the day at a town hall meeting at his hedge fund.
“Whenever you meet somebody, they want to talk about the Mets before they talk about financial markets,” he said.
Soto’s success will be judged by how many World Series titles he helps the Mets win. The Yankees have 27, while the Mets have two. “It’s such a big city, right? There’s plenty of room for both of us,” Cohen said.
Soto had a more straightforward view. “Championships are going to tell you if it’s a Yankees or Mets town at the end of the day,” he said.
