Juan Soto’s Mets introductory press conference might have been a Steve Cohen infomercial. He spent most of his presser discussing Cohen’s vision of making the Mets a destination and a dynasty.
Make no mistake. Soto’s signing is only successful if the Mets win at least two or three championships. Great individual seasons and playoff runs are not just enough. Cohen and his newest Met made that clear. But for now, it’s a baseball marriage made from heaven, and the good news is that the Mets are positioned to make it happen.
Cohen has finally achieved the stability he sought when purchasing the team. With a capable general manager in David Stearns and an outstanding manager in Carlos Mendoza, their farm system nurtures talent and fosters a positive culture for player success.
Yes, Soto’s signing was about the money. The $5 million difference from the Yankees offer was closer to why he signed cross-town rather than stay with the Yankees. But Soto needed a reason to make sure he made the right decision to accept the highest offer. He doesn’t want to waste his time and career on a team doing lip service, and the Mets’ 2024 season was a critical factor. If the Mets didn’t have a summer to remember that ended in the NL Championship Series, it’s doubtful Soto would have signed the Mets. Money be damned.
When last season started, I never thought the Mets had a chance to sign Soto, but then they went on a great run. Soto witnessed the culture and heard great things about Cohen and his win-first approach, which convinced him to sign with the Mets.
That all came out at the presser. Soto said a player is judged based on how many championships he wins, which is definitely true in this town. If you don’t win it all, then your season is meaningless. That was music to Cohen’s ears.
So, the die is cast. The Cohen era will be tied to Lindor’s and Soto’s legacy, which is the number of championships they will win together. It’s not about chasing the Yankees; it’s about chasing the Braves, Dodgers, and Phillies–not just in the short term but in the longer term. Of course, the sooner, the better, when the Mets stars are in the prime of their careers.
The short-term investment should pay off, too. The Mets could attract 3 million in attendance and be a national TV draw, and Soto and Lindor will get all the publicity that comes with it.
But again, the long-term is about achieving Cohen’s vision. It’s about ending a championship drought that is at 38 years and counting. It’s about Canyon of Heroes parades for the Mets. It’s about supplanting the Yankees for the city’s love.
Only results will determine whether all of that comes to be.
