The speculations around All-Star slugger Juan Soto's next team aren't slowing down in the offseason. Soto, who played for the New York Yankees in 2024, has been strongly linked with a move to city rivals New York Mets even before he opted for free agency.
Juan Soto reportedly met with Mets owner Steve Cohen and other New York officials for a meeting in Los Angeles last week. However, when Cohen was asked about his team's pursuit of the former one-time World Series winner, the Mets owner didn't provide much of an update.
"We’re going to find out,” he said at an event for the New York Golf Club’s inaugural season on Monday . "It’s either going to be yes or no, there’s no in-between, time will tell.”
Steve Cohen's noncommittal comments amused MLB fans who are following the news around Soto.
A fan wrote sarcastically:
"Soto agrees to a deal that will have him playing for the Mets on weekends and every other Friday. Soto will be continuously traded between the Mets and the Yankees at a nearby Target parking lot and Soto is not allowed to mention how much McDonalds Steve Cohen purchased for him that week."
Several fans had a similar reaction to Cohen's comments, saying Soto will represent both New York teams.
"Hal and Stevie are going to go halvsies and Soto is going to sign a deal with the Mets and Yankees so he can live in NY and only play home games. Book it," wrote another fan.
Another fan chimed in:
"Soto will be the first player to sign with both NY teams at the same time. He will alternate between them and play 81 for each."
Some fans also defended Steve Cohen.
"No owner is gonna give any meaningful quote when comes to stuff like this," argued a fan.
"The cheeky response is undefeated," wrote a fan.
Mets owner Steve Cohen vows to build a strong team amid Juan Soto rumors
The New York Mets are considered one of frontrunners in Juan Soto's free agency. Cohen's team has one of the most flexible payrolls heading into the 2025 season and the Mets are reportedly willing to pay over $500,000,000 for the coveted superstar.
"We'll see," Cohen said. "We built a great team last year, I fully expect to do the same this year.”
However, it's not a straightforward pursuit as the Yankees are also keen on the enigmatic hitter, especially after Soto's career-best offensive year in pinstripes helped the team to the World Series for the first time since 2009.
Several other teams, the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays, are also reportedly eyeing a move for the coveted 26-year-old All-Star.
Going by the turn of events in Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani's free agency last offseason, Juan Soto's sweepstakes isn't expected to conclude anytime soon.