"The Mets are no longer the best man for the Yankees. Recruit Soto unconditionally", New York media to spend money like the Dodgers

Oct 22, 2024

New York Yankees Juan Soto is showing his joy by extending his finger at a celebration after confirming his advance to the World Series on the 20th (Korea time). AFP Yonhap News

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen is watching the second game of the division series against the Philadelphia Phillies on the 7th (Korea time). AP Yonhap News

The 12th World Series between the LA Dodgers and the New York Yankees will open at Dodger Stadium at 9:08 a.m. on the 26th (Korea time).

Since the Dodgers have home advantage, Games 1 and 2 and, if necessary, Games 6 and 7 will be held at Dodger Stadium. In a survey of six reporters from CBS Sports, three each picked the Dodgers and Yankees as the favorites, and five predicted that they would go to Game 7. Game 7 is scheduled for Nov. 3.

With experts, gamblers and statistics companies predicting who will win, it is difficult to predict one side's dominance. The greatest game of all time is being predicted.

When this World Series comes to an end, another tremendous 'event' is coming soon. Juan Soto, called `Ted Williams of the 21st Century,' finally becomes a free body.

The question of Soto is summarized in two ways. 'Leaving the Yankees?'Wow 'Does Otani exceed his ransom?It's too early to expect, but most local media and experts are predicting `Remain the Yankees' and 'Raise comparable to Otani.'

Juan Soto is celebrating with Aaron Judge after hitting a three-run shot in the 10th inning of overtime in the ALCS Game 5. Imagn Yonhap News Agency

Bernie Plescope, who has been a scout for the Houston Astros and Seattle Mariners for a long time and is now writing about Major League Baseball for online and offline media, wrote in a column on Forbes on the 18th that "'Juan Soto's scramble to win will begin right after the World Series.'" Soto, who will celebrate his 26th birthday on the 25th, will enjoy the recruitment battle between Major League teams. Ohtani signed a huge 10-year, $700 million contract with the Dodgers on December 12 last year, and Soto is three years younger than Ohtani at the time, and it is predicted that the Soto contract will be signed at around $600 million for 10 years. Furthermore, he predicted that Soto could become the highest-paid player in history beyond the Otani contract.

However, what is noteworthy is the possibility of re-signing with the Yankees. He said the Yankees' offer could be made at a level not enough for Soto because of the huge contracts he signed with Aaron Judge, Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodón and Giancarlo Stanton. 'Agreement with Soto requires us to raise more resources needed to maintain or enhance our current roster,' he wrote. In other words, the possibility of breaking up is not small.

At the same time, he cited the Mets, who are based in New York and are led by Steve Cohen, the richest owner in the Major League, as a strong destination. Plescope says 'Money doesn't matter to Cohen. Cohen and President David Stearns believe that if Soto is secured, the Mets will maintain the ranks of the strong team for many years.

Another media outlet argued that the Mets should catch Soto. New York Post columnist Joel Sherman said on the 22nd that the Mets and Steve Cohen should pour whatever it takes to take Juan Soto away from the Yankees' published a lengthy column.

Mets owner Steve Cohen hugs Francisco Lindor after beating Philadelphia in Game 4 of the Division Series on the 10th (Korea time) and confirming his qualification for the League Championship Series. AP Yonhap News

Here's the summary.

If the Mets follow the steps of the Los Angeles Dodgers, which lost the National League Championship Series (NLCS), and hope to narrow the gap with the team with a consistent winning history, they should have a life-or-death offseason as the Dodgers poured more than $1 billion last winter. The Dodgers invested more than $1 billion in recruiting Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Teoscar Hernandez in December last year. The fruits led to the World Series. Cohen and Stearns should recruit not only Soto but also all the necessary FA, given that he chose the Dodgers with winning power despite the Mets entering the Yamamoto recruitment race last year. The Mets version of the Dodgers? How about doing a mega deal with Soto and Ohtani? Cohen wants to show his club like a collection of art. He is the one who will spend the money he needs for what he wants. While he listens to President Stearns' advice, he should not admit that he wants to work on the offseason at an affordable price.'

One thing to note is the interview he had with Mets outfielder Brandon Nemo. Nemo "Stance is the one who puts the necessary resources in the right place. That is crucial for Cohen to guide the club in the direction he wants it to go. They don't want the Mets to be another team in New York anymore. I hope it will be a more respected club than that."

In other words, it means that Cohen is strongly hoping to make the club more than the Yankees' best man in New York.

Juan Soto, considered the biggest FA word, may be signed at the $700 million level. AFP Yonhap News

Sherman says the `Yankees want him to stay, but owner Hal Steinbrenner is trying to reduce payrolls worth more than $300 million. Maybe call Cohen an old man in the Soto scramble. But will Cohen go all out? It should be so, he stressed.

The Mets are a high-spending club since Cohen took over the team in 2020. But the Mets are not a club that has been spending money 'well'. Typical examples are FA Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander. He signed a three-year, $130 million contract with Scherzer and a two-year, $86.66 million contract with Verlander, setting an all-time AAV record. However, the two pitchers left the team in a trade last summer after suffering from injuries for the Mets. When the Mets recognized that they had no will for the postseason, they agreed to trade. Most of the remaining salaries of the two were to be paid by the Mets, but that period is now over.

Soto is an FA with no alternative. It is not common for batters to be strong not only in pennant races but also in baseball in October, with a healthy body and proven ability. If Cohen burns his will, the Yankees cannot chase the betting. Scott Boras is well aware that Soto is not as attached to the Yankees as Judge.

jhno@sportschosun.com