It’s been a tumultuous season for both New York City teams, but as the MLB postseason nears, there’s a genuine possibility of playoff baseball in both boroughs. The New York Yankees, led by the Aaron Judge-Juan Soto duo, are currently atop the American League East by two games and are tied for the best record in the league.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets have made a remarkable second-half surge for one of the National League wild card spots, thanks to an MVP-caliber season from star shortstop Francisco Lindor. Though they still need to close a three-game gap behind the Atlanta Braves for the final playoff spot, it’s unusual to see both NYC teams performing well as the season winds down.
Looking ahead, there’s speculation about the future, especially concerning Soto. Acquired by the Yankees through a trade last offseason, Soto will be a free agent after the 2024 season. Despite an impressive performance with a .296/.427/.600 slash line, 37 home runs, and 95 RBI in 128 games, there’s uncertainty about whether the Steinbrenner family will offer him a massive contract, given the existing deals with Judge and Gerrit Cole. For his part, Lindor would be pleased if Soto decided to join the Mets.
“When it comes to the outfielder from across our borough,” New York Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor said, “he’s having a fantastic year and I hope he goes out there and breaks every record out there when it comes to getting paid. If it’s with us, it’ll be fantastic. He’ll help us a lot.”
Juan Soto is set to become a highly sought-after and expensive free agent, potentially breaking records. While it’s unlikely he will match Shohei Ohtani’s $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the innovative structure of that contract might influence future negotiations.
Mets owner Steve Cohen, with a net worth of nearly $20 billion, has shown a willingness to spend generously to achieve success at Citi Field. Soto would be an ideal addition for the franchise, not only because of his talent but also because it would involve taking a star away from the crosstown rivals. Cohen might even be inclined to offer an enormous contract. While there’s still a lot of baseball to be played, this potential partnership is definitely worth considering as free agency approaches.
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