As Juan Soto prepares for his first season with the New York Mets, he explained why he chose to leave the Yankees for their crosstown rivals. His decision, which resulted in the largest contract in professional sports history, ultimately came down to family.
“I can’t say anything bad about Yankees fans. They were incredible, supporting me every single day last season,” Soto said in an interview on NBC’s TODAY that aired Monday.
“I truly appreciate not just the Yankees fans but also the Dominican community. Their support meant a lot to me.”
A Historic Contract
At 26 years old, the four-time All-Star had a career-best season with the Yankees, hitting 41 home runs. But just weeks after the Yankees lost the World Series to the Dodgers, Soto made a bold move—signing a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets in December.
The deal surpassed Shohei Ohtani’s contract as the richest in MLB history, and with certain incentives, it could exceed $800 million, according to ESPN.
“The Yankees tried their best, but sometimes things don’t work out,” Soto admitted. “There were a lot of factors involved. In the end, my family and I made this decision together, and we felt it was the right one.”
Chasing Another Championship
Soto has already appeared in two World Series in his seven-year career. Now, he hopes to help the Mets win their first championship since 1986.
Last season, the Mets finished tied for second in their division. They defeated Milwaukee in the wild-card round and Philadelphia in the NLDS before falling to the Dodgers in the NLCS.
“We’re really close to being back on top,” Soto said. “We have the talent to compete, and while I can’t predict the future, I know we’ll be in the mix.”
Embracing the Pressure
Signing such a massive contract comes with high expectations, but Soto isn’t letting the pressure get to him.
“The Mets signed me for who I am, so I’m going to keep being myself,” he said. “I’m not trying to do too much or carry the whole team on my back. I’ll just keep playing the way I always have, and that’s how I’ll handle the pressure.”
Mets general manager David Stearns called Soto a rare talent, while owner Steve Cohen described him as a “generational ballplayer.”
With the season ahead, Soto is ready to prove why the Mets made him the face of their franchise.
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