Juan Soto reportedly chose New York Mets over New York Yankees due to organizational doubts

While the offseason is just about over now that the regular season MLB schedule is set to begin, there was no bigger story than Juan Soto‘s free agency sweepstakes this winter. Lost throughout Soto’s long, drawn-out process that saw him leave the New York Yankees for the New York Mets for a 15-year, $765 million contract was why exactly he chose to leave his already big-market competitive club for another.

Sure, the actual free agency offers were surely the biggest factor involved. But this is the Yankees we’re talking about. Would they really balk at matching an offer from their cross-town rivals? There had to be another factor involved…

Juan Soto had long-term concerns about New York Yankees

There’s nothing the New York Yankees can do about losing Juan Soto to the New York Mets now. It’s all history.

Still, according to Soto, who recently spoke to Sports Illustrated, admitted that the Yankees were initially his first choice to sign with. Yet, after considering all factors from his various offers, concerns grew about the Yankees’ long-term ability to maintain their success when compared to the free-spending Mets.

“The Yankees were No. 1. From Day One. As you see how long this contract is going to be, it just came down to that decision, you know? What do they have in the farm system? How many times can we be good on this team? I know the Yankees are going to be good for the next five, six years. We don’t know after that.”
Juan Soto, speaking to SI on difference between New York Mets and New York Yankees

The Yankees reached the World Series last season, not the Mets. Yet, Soto is fully bought into Mets owner Steve Cohen, saying he “gives him all my trust.” We’ll get a chance to see whether Soto’s decision pays off over the next decade-plus, though in a Mets uniform instead of the Yankees’ pinstripes.