The Los Angeles Dodgers are just two wins away from clinching a World Series title, while the New York Mets are at home contemplating their future. Amid the Mets’ plans to eliminate the New York Yankees, troubling rumors have surfaced about an offseason pursuit of Juan Soto.
According to Jon Heyman from the NY Post, the World Series travel day was anything but quiet for fans hoping their team would make a move for Soto. The Yankees are considered contenders for his signature, alongside the Mets, whose billionaire owner Steve Cohen could potentially become a savior for fans who support the team.
Cohen took over the Mets with concerns that he might replicate the Dodgers’ approach. The Dodgers have assembled a roster that resembles a super team, and their tactics around Shohei Ohtani’s contract have painted them as the biggest villains in baseball.
For many fans, the idea of Cohen offering a contract to Juan Soto is now an outcome they eagerly anticipate. The notion of the rich getting richer—where “rich” refers to talent rather than finances—is not appealing to most average fans. Soto’s potential move to the Dodgers should come as no surprise, given that they’ve pursued every major free agent. Their interest in Soto, a generational talent, would only enhance their chances of winning a championship.
Heyman highlights that Soto’s preferences may differ from those of a player like Ohtani, who favored the West Coast. There’s a prevailing thought that Soto might lean toward joining an East Coast team. If this were to eliminate the disturbing rumors about the Dodgers, many fans of teams outside the bidding would gladly welcome him to the Mets.
This past year, the Mets made significant strides, transforming from a laughingstock to a more enjoyable franchise. While some rivals may find their antics tiresome, even Mets fans might feel that certain gimmicks have overstayed their welcome by season’s end.
When asked where they’d like to see Soto sign, most baseball fans would choose their own team. Among realistic options, it’s hard for anyone who isn’t a Mets hater to oppose seeing him receive a deal from Cohen. The Dodgers and Yankees have become the supervillains of the sport, and the thought of them securing Soto for the next decade feels like letting the biggest bully in high school become prom king.
This offseason will heavily revolve around Soto’s eventual destination. With the Dodgers emerging as a strong contender just days before they could win a championship with their stacked roster, it’s imperative for Cohen to step up with a generous offer and position himself as the hero who stops this from happening.