ESPN: As he signed with the Mets, Juan Soto exposed the Yankees’ “lie.”
New York Mets superstar right fielder Juan Soto is setting the record straight: He had no concerns with how the New York Yankees handled his family during the 2024 season in the Bronx.
In an interview released by “Grandes en Los Deportes” on Dec. 20, Soto indicated that any stories or speculations of discontent with the Yankees’ treatment toward his family weren’t factual.
MLB reporter Héctor Gómez and other translations of the interview claim that Soto stated, “That’s a lie.”
The New York Post translated Soto’s statement as saying, “My family was treated very well by the organization,” and that he believed the Yankees’ staff was “tremendous.”
On December 8, the Mets signed Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract (which could potentially reach $805 million). This decision was likely influenced by the Yankees’ offer, which was 15 years and $760 million, according to reports, but it was also reportedly influenced by a few incidents involving Soto’s family and the familial environment that Mets owner Steve Cohen is fostering.
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman said the day after his deal that Soto was “allegedly upset” about an early-season incident in which a “overzealous” Yankees security guard denied entry to a family member and Soto’s chef/driver. Although the facts were brief, they alluded to the importance of family and fit in with the elements in ESPN’s narrative. “But the Mets were aware, and you can bet they will make sure nothing like that happens in Queens,” the Post said, confirming Soto’s forgiveness.
From ESPN on December 12, which explored how the Mets acquired him:
According to accounts, Soto’s father had gone to the clubhouse door before to a game with the intention of delivering his oldest son some lunch. In a standard enforcement of the regulations that MLB implemented during the steroid era, he was turned away; in certain instances, personal trainers and family members were discovered to have acted as PED mules.
Another instance, someone expecting to drive Soto home at the end of a game wanted to wait in a packed parking lot, and the driver was advised to stay outside the area until after the game, per team regulations. (Neither Boone nor Cashman was made aware of the two security occurrences until long after the World Series.)
A $75 million signing bonus, a suite at Citi Field (something the Yankees charge their players for), and 22 Delta Club premium tickets are reportedly included in Soto’s contract with the Mets. Additionally, according to Bill Madden of the New York Daily News, Soto was given “clothes allowance for his mother” and protection for his family.
