For Juan Soto, the inclusion of a set in his record-setting contract was a candy gesture by Mets proprietor Steve Cohen.
A luxurious field at Citi Discipline for Soto’s household was one of many perks Cohen included within the 15-year, $765 million contract that he signed the slugger to this week.
“My family’s really important for me, and without them, I probably wouldn’t be here,” Soto mentioned Thursday after his introductory press convention at Citi Discipline.
“I feel like that was really nice coming from him, and what he’s been showing and what he can do for my family was really special, so I think it’s one of the biggest things.”
The inclusion of the suite garnered consideration this week after his earlier staff, the Yankees, declined to incorporate one of their supply.
Cohen mentioned he was “happy to provide” the suite after it was requested from Soto’s aspect of the negotiations.
“We included it right from the beginning,” Cohen mentioned Thursday. “That was a request.”
The Yankees provided Soto a reported 16-year, $760 million deal, however common supervisor Brian Cashman mentioned the staff felt it ought to “honor” prior preparations through which Aaron Decide, Gerrit Cole and CC Sabathia paid for their very own suites at Yankee Stadium.
“Some high-end players that make a lot of money for us, if they want suites, they buy them,” Cashman mentioned Wednesday on the Winter Conferences in Dallas. “No regrets there.”
Cashman additionally downplayed the concept that the suite was a big consider Soto’s departure, suggesting the perk didn’t swing “the possession arrow one way or another when you’re making that kind of money.”
Soto, 26, ended up spending just one season with the Yankees, who acquired him final December in a blockbuster commerce with the San Diego Padres.
The proper fielder hit a career-high 41 house runs and completed third in American League MVP voting with the Yankees, whom he helped result in the World Collection.
Soto spoke extremely Thursday of his experiences with the Yankees, however ultimately, it was the Mets who received a high-stakes bidding battle that additionally included the Boston Purple Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays.
“My Yankees experience, I can’t even describe it,” Soto mentioned. “It was incredible. I had the best time. It was really tough to go away from it, but definitely we were trying to figure out how things were gonna be here and there, and as a family we decided.”
Initially Revealed: December 12, 2024 at 7:56 PM EST
