ESPN: Juan Soto made a shocking promise to New York Yankees following the New York Mets defection.
According to an intriguing new rumor, Juan Soto is trying to appease irate New York Yankees supporters who are now doubting his defense following his unexpected trade to the New York Mets last month.
There have been several significant transactions in the MLB trade and free agent markets in December. All of them, though, are nothing compared to the Mets’ incredible victory in the Juan Soto sweepstakes. When a top free agent just starting their peak choose to play in Queens rather than the Bronx, it appeared to represent a paradigm change in New York.
The Mets’ offer of the highest salary ever made to an athlete undoubtedly had a significant impact on the great outfielder’s choice. His decision to go to the Yankees’ crosstown rivals, though, has hurt their fan base. And despite being his staunchest ally for a year, the Yanks fan base has come out in force, expressing that Soto and his defense would not be missed.
Although it is an unexpected story from a disgruntled fan base, there is some validity to it. Soto’s defense isn’t good enough to earn him the title of best paid athlete in the sport. Nonetheless, it appears that the four-time All-Star’s defense came up during talks, and he is inspired to strengthen it even more in 2025 and beyond.
The New York Mets believe Juan Soto’s defense has a lot of long-term promise.
The Athletic was informed by Mets President David Stearns that “we actually talked to Juan about that during our meetings with him.” He has a strong desire to keep becoming better at defending himself. He improved over the previous 12 months, and we believe he may advance further.
Antoan Richardson, the assistant coach for the New York Mets, told The Athletic about a day when he saw Soto while he was with the Washington Nationals. His commitment to recovering before games in the past. He will participate in an effort to strengthen his Queens defense. He also finds a lot of evidence that Juan Soto hasn’t yet reached the full extent of his outfield talent.
“Work ethic and his will to improve were among the topics [those who know Soto] discussed. Therefore, we are eager to determine how that may occur and how we can do it, starting from that point. I picture someone who moves fluidly and is really athletic. He has an opportunity to excel in the field. Working with Juan to become the best version of himself in right field would be the aim. He wants to do that as well, based on what I’ve heard.
Contract with Juan Soto: 15 years, $765 million
Stearns strengthened the internal conviction that Soto may develop into an even more comprehensive regular player. describing how the celebrity is still in the early stages of what should be an extremely lengthy career.
“We are discussing a player who is 26 years old,” Stearns stated to The Athletic. In a typical baseball universe, the guy we’re discussing is perhaps a year or two into his major league career. Therefore, we have no doubt that Juan will be in right field for a very long time.
Given his efforts to become one of the game’s finest players, it’s unlikely that Soto won’t want to strengthen his defense even more in an effort to appease cynical Yankees supporters and critics.
