Signing Juan Soto Is An Absolute Must For Cohen, Mets
Steve Cohen has been patiently waiting and building towards this moment ever since he bought the New York Mets back in 2020.
One year after finally landing his big white whale in David Stearns to run the baseball operations, Cohen will now attempt to claim his ultimate prize.
That prize is, of course, Juan Soto. And it isn’t overstating the fact to suggest that signing the biggest name available this winter is an absolute must for Cohen and the Mets.
They absolutely can’t whiff on this one. They just can’t.
Because, by signing Soto—a true generational hitter with absolute superstar prowess—Cohen will prove once and for all that he possesses both the desire and the financial might needed to take this organization to the next level.
After not aggressively going after Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, coupled with the failed pursuits of Carlos Correa and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, now is the time for Cohen to deliver Queens its own legitimate star. Soto would be to the Mets what Ohtani is to the Dodgers, and what Judge is to the Yankees. He would be the key ingredient needed for a championship-caliber roster.
David Dermer-Imagn Images
A TRUE SUPERSTAR
Blessed with supernatural talent, Soto is the piece the Mets need in order to take that next giant leap. They were the fun and lovable little engine that could in 2024. But, in order to be considered a true contender in 2025, they will need a legitimate star to pair with Francisco Lindor. Soto ticks that box and so many more.
Over the first six years of his career, Soto has played at a historic pace. Even if he was league average for three more years then he called it quits, he’d probably get into the Hall of Fame on roller skates. He has hit .285/.421/532 for his career so far. That’s in addition to 201 career home runs, 179 doubles, 592 RBIs, 655 runs scored and a career .953 OPS. Oh, Soto is already World Series champion too. He’s also proven he can mash in the postseason.
Furthermore, Soto is coming off an absolute monster year for the Yankees in 2024—his first in the Bronx. He hit .288/.419/.569/.989 with 41 home runs, 31 doubles, 128 runs scored and 109 RBIs in the Pinstripes last year. Don’t forget the 7.9 WAR, also. And, having just turned 26, Soto has his prime years right in front of him. This is a player you can build an entire team around for the next decade or so. He would be a key cornerstone piece for best part of 10 years plus.
Now, granted, there are defensive warts to Soto’s game. The occasional misplay or flubbed catch in the outfield should be expected. We saw plenty of both in the last year alone with the Yankees. But, when you are acquiring a generational bat like Soto’s, you can live with a below average glove in the field. He can easily move to first base—a less intensive defensive position—or DH down the road, too.
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
MAKING A STATEMENT
It isn’t just Soto’s God-like talents on the field that make him a must-have for the Mets, however. As already mentioned, Soto is the best hitter in baseball. He may be one of the most special pure hitters the game has ever seen. As such, the 26-year-old is a true bankable box office big time star. Period. Soto will raise the profile of the Mets tenfold, potentially helping to turn the organization into a national sports story of interest. Soto’s mere presence could also help to attract other big-name free agents further down the road.
After years of being cheap under the Wilpons, in addition to being viewed as a laughingstock by the wider sports world, signing Soto would officially change the tide for the Mets. Splashing the mega bucks on a marquee free agent would be a crystal clear sign that times really are different under the Cohen family. It is one thing having endless amounts of wealth, but another thing entirely to actually follow through and weaponize it. Winning the Soto sweepstakes and coming away with arguably the most special free agent we’ve seen in decades—Ohtani aside—would automatically put the Mets at the top table of the baseball big boys.
You also can’t overstate just how big a deal it would be for baseball in New York if the Mets beat out the Yankees to sign Soto. The Yanks have always been the kings of New York, but missing out on a bona fide superstar they had in the building for an entire year to their crosstown rivals would mark a significant and unwanted first for the storied franchise. At that point, it would be hard to argue that the Mets haven’t overtaken the Yankees as it pertains to being a premier destination for the top tier of elite free agents.
Sign Juan Soto
So, for all of the reasons above and more, Cohen and the Mets simply can’t let Soto get away this offseason. If this franchise wants to take the next giant leap on the baseball diamond, and away from it, Soto must be on the 2025 Opening Day roster. No ifs, ands or buts.
At the time of writing this, the Mets remain one of the favorits to sign Soto after their meeting with the superstar this week went well. While Soto may have a preference to return to the Yankees, who he met with on Monday, it seems pretty clear he will go to the highest bidder. With reports indicating that Cohen is willing to blow any offer out of the water, Mets fans should remain hopeful.
After all, this is what all Mets fans have dreamed of ever since Cohen bought the team. A passionate and ambitious owner with deep pockets willing to go to war with the likes of the Yankees and the Dodgers for the very best players in the game. But, money, passion and ambition will only buy you so much credit with a fanbase. Having clearly plotted and built towards this day, Cohen must now deliver Juan Soto to the Mets.
If the New York Mets want to become a true powerhouse in the game, and in the sports world, they can’t afford to miss out on a true generational player in Soto.
It really is that simple.
The post Signing Juan Soto Is An Absolute Must For Cohen, Mets appeared first on Metsmerized Online.