San Diego Padres slugger Juan Soto isn’t an MLB free agent until 2024. But when the time does come, he’ll have his eye on Steve Cohen and the New York Mets.
The Mets are more than willing to flirt with the luxury tax. Hell, Steve Cohen is honored to have another level of the tax named after him. To Cohen, the Mets are an investment — and one he’s seen a nice return on thus far.
While New York did not sign Carlos Correa, who failed his second physical of the offseason in Queens, the Mets still have plenty of money to play with in the years to come. Shohei Ohtani and Manny Machado are available next offseason, with Juan Soto a free agent in the winter after that.
Generational talents only come around so often. If Soto is still playing to his talent level, you can be the Mets will be interested.
Soto let fans know that interest is mutual on social media.
MLB rumors: Could Juan Soto sign with the New York Mets?
Juan Soto, a former Washington National, could very well end up a Met in the 2024-25 offseason. However, that depends on how events transpire up until that point.
First, New York is expected to be in on Shohei Ohtani and Manny Machado next offseason. If they sign either one of those two players to a lucrative, long-term deal, a Soto contract is likely off the table. Even Cohen has his limits.
Second, New York’s own talented players need contract extensions. Pete Alonso, for one, is due a new deal.
The San Diego Padres will have something to say about where Soto ends up. They didn’t trade all that prospect capital to Washington just to let Soto walk. Especially should the Padres lose out on the Machado sweepstakes, one could expect them to step up for Soto the next winter.