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Tag: Sotos

  • Yankees’ Aaron Judge talks Mets’ Juan Soto’s playoff belief

    Yankees’ Aaron Judge talks Mets’ Juan Soto’s playoff belief

    New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge thinks the Yankees have a better chance of winning the World Series than their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets. 

    Judge, 32, was asked about his former teammate, Juan Soto, and Soto’s apparent conclusion that he had a better chance to win with the Mets than the Yankees. 

    “That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him. I wasn’t too surprised by it, I think that’s where he wanted to be,” Judge said to reporters on Monday during a press conference. 

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    New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, #99, smiles during spring training batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Dave Nelson-Imagn Images)

    Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract with the Mets this offseason. If Soto opts out after the fifth year of his contract, the Mets can void it by making the total value of the contract $805 million. 

    “The Mets are a great organization and what they have done in the past couple of year showing the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try and grow a dynasty, is one of the most important things,” Soto said when asked why he chose to sign with the Mets in free agency.

    Soto’s deal is the richest contract in the history of professional sports, and Judge said Monday he is happy for his former teammate.

    “I think that’s where is best for him and his family. He got a pretty nice deal over there, you can’t say no that. But I’m happy for him, he got a good deal. He’s going to be in a great spot. It’s going to be great having him in town. We are going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years. I’m definitely happy for him,” Judge said. 

    Judge and Soto were the big leagues’ best duo last season. 

    Judge won the American League MVP after clubbing a league high 58 home runs and driving in the most runs in baseball (144) while maintaining a sparkling .322 batting average.

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    Juan Soto looks on

    New York Mets right fielder Juan Soto, #22, looks on after taking batting practice during a spring training workout at Clover Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

    Soto finished third in the AL MVP race, as he had the best season of his career while hitting in front of Judge. 

    Soto hit a career high 41 home runs and hit .288, while getting on base at a .419 clip. 

    Judge knows it is impossible to replace Soto, but he likes what the Yankees have done to make up for his loss. 

    “Soto is one-of-a-kind man, he’s a special player. Excited for him and his new chapter with the Mets, but we added a lot of new pieces here, starting with (Cody) Bellinger and (Paul) Goldschmidt. Two guys that are former MVP’s, guys that are still wanting to improve, still want to get better,” Judge said. 

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    Aaron Judge swings

    New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge, #99, hits a ball during spring training batting practice at George M. Steinbrenner Field. (Dave Nelson-Imagn Images)

    “They are going to add such a different dynamic to this team. It really lengthens our whole lineup when you have those guys batting in the middle of your order a lot of good things are going to happen. You can’t replace a guy like Juan Soto, but you bring in guys like this that are All Star, MVP caliber players.”

    The Yankees acquired Bellinger in a trade with the Chicago Cubs and signed Goldschmidt to a one-year deal in free agency. 

    Bellinger won the 2019 NL MVP with the Los Angeles Dodgers and has spent the last two seasons with the Cubs.

    Bellinger hit .266 and hit 18 home runs with the Cubs last season, and he plays a strong centerfield. 

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    Juan Soto swings bat

    New York Mets left fielder Juan Soto, #22, takes batting practice during a spring training workout at Clover Park. (Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)

    Goldschmidt won the NL MVP in 2022 but struggled last season as he got off a slow start before bouncing back. He hit .245 with 22 home runs in 154 games last season. 

    Those two will be tasked with replacing the hole Soto left in the Yankees lineup, as they try to make it back to the World Series after losing to the Dodgers in five games. 

    Soto will be relied upon to anchor the Mets lineup alongside Francisco Lindor, as the Mets have World Series aspirations after a surprise run to the NLCS last season. 

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    Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital.

  • Mets owner Steve Cohen compares Pete Alonso contract talks to Juan Soto’s acquisition: ‘This is worse’

    Mets owner Steve Cohen compares Pete Alonso contract talks to Juan Soto’s acquisition: ‘This is worse’

    Here’s something New York Mets fans might not have seen coming this offseason: Pete Alonso’s contract talks are “worse” than Juan Soto’s, according to owner Steven Cohen. 

    During an appearance at the Mets’ Amazin’ Day Saturday afternoon at Citi Field, Cohen was on a panel with his general manager, David Stearns, and manager Carlos Mendoza, while legendary broadcaster Gary Cohen (no relation) moderated the group. 

    Before questions could be asked, though, the Mets’ faithful in the crowd burst into a “We want Pete!” chant, referring to Alonso, the free agent first baseman who has been a Met his entire career. 

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    New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the media before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citi Field June 28, 2023, in New York City.  (Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)

    “Hold that for the end, OK?” Cohen told the crowd, smiling. 

    The Mets and Alonso have had negotiations, but have not reached a deal after they signed Soto to his $765 million deal. New York has landed other players in free agency, but Alonso remains one of the top players on the market. 

    Alonso was the team’s second-round pick out of the Florida Gators’ program in 2016, and he’s spent his first six seasons hitting home runs (226), including a rookie record 53 that aided his Rookie of the Year resume in 2019. He’s also made four All-Star teams, including each of the last three, and has a career .854 OPS. 

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    As a fan favorite, it’s easy to see why Mets fans are chanting for their first baseman to be back for a hopeful World Series run in 2025 with Soto added to a roster that also includes Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo and Mark Vientos. 

    But Cohen, as he has been many times in the past, was transparent with the fan base about what’s been going on in negotiations with Alonso’s agent, Scott Boras, who also represents Soto. 

    “We’ve made a significant offer to Pete, and, you know, what David said is correct. He’s entitled to go out and explore his market,” Cohen said. “That’s what he’s doing. Personally, this has been an exhausting conversation and negotiation. I mean, Soto was tough. This is worse.”

    The Soto sweepstakes were a roller coaster, and it seemed like he was going to stay with the New York Yankees until Cohen came swooping in at the eleventh hour with an offer of a lifetime, crushing Shohei Ohtani’s record contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

    So, with a record-breaking deal done, how could Alonso’s negotiations possibly be worse?

    Pete Alonso in action

    New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso runs the bases after hitting a home run in the sixth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies during Game 2 of a 2024 NLDS at Citizens Bank Park.  (Kyle Ross/Imagn Images)

    “I don’t like the structures that are being presented back to us,” Cohen explained. “I think it’s highly asymmetric against us, and I feel strongly about it. I will never say no. There’s always the possibility. But the reality is we’re moving forward, and we continue to bring in players. As we continue to bring in players, the reality is it becomes harder to fit Pete into what is a very expensive group of players that we already have. That’s where we are.

    “I’m being brutally honest. I don’t like the negotiations, I don’t like what’s been presented to us, and maybe that changes. Certainly, I’ll always stay flexible. If it stays this way, I think we’re going to have to get used to the fact that we may have to go forward with the existing players that we have.”

    Mets fans appreciated the honesty from their owner, giving him a round of applause at the end. 

    Stearns added, “We all love Pete. And we’ve said that many times. I think as we’ve gone through this process, we’ve continued to express that.”

    SNY reported this week the Mets have a $68-70 million offer in “present day money” on the table. Alonso turned down a deal for more than $70 million when taking deferred money into account. 

    Steve Cohen in the Mets' dugout

    New York Mets owner Steve Cohen defended the team’s deadline moves. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

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    The Toronto Blue Jays have also been linked to Alonso, but no deal appears imminent.

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    Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.