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It’s becoming increasingly evident that Juan Soto’s decision to sign with the Mets was pushed over the finish line by the Amazin’s emphasis on family and what they could do to welcome the superstar slugger’s crew into the fold.
According to The Post’s Jon Heyman, the Mets threw everything but the kitchen sink at the Soto clan, including the much-publicized free suite, four premium tickets and round-the-clock security.
Reports that family members were going to receive air travel or get free clothes don’t appear to be true, Heyman also reported, but the Mets put an emphasis on the family atmosphere that Mets owner Steve Cohen’s wife, Alex, has emphasized since Cohen bought the ballclub.
The Mets beat out the Yankees’ offer by a mere $5 million when they handed Soto a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million contract earlier this month.
Among the items in the deal, the Mets offered a suite at Citi Field for his family, while the Yankees didn’t appear willing to budge on the idea of offering Soto that option.
The Yankees stood on the longstanding principle that players pay for those types of accommodations, which has been the case for some of the club’s biggest stars such as Aaron Judge and even Derek Jeter back during his playing days.
A suite at Citi Field for one game can range between $3,250 and $13,000 depending on the date and opponent.
Soto was also said to have been upset with Yankee Stadium security after they had turned away a family member and his chef/driver from certain areas.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman pushed back on those claims during the Winter Meetings.
“However it gets played out [in media], whether it’s like, ‘The suite was the issue’ or whatever. It’s like: Was it really?” Cashman said.
And in terms of the incidents with security, Cashman said: “I’m not saying it couldn’t happen. But if it was such a big deal, I would have heard from [agent] Scott Boras.”
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