After Juan Soto left for the Mets as a free agent, the New York Yankees made sure to let their fans know they had made a significant effort to keep him. The team reportedly offered Soto a massive $760 million contract, which was $400 million more than reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge’s deal. Despite this bold attempt, Soto chose to sign with the Mets, prompting the Yankees to quickly shift focus to improving their run prevention and defensive strategies. However, the situation didn’t end without some lingering tensions, with rumors suggesting that the Mets had sealed the deal with appealing perks for Soto’s family.
Chris Rose, a longtime MLB broadcaster, believes that Yankees managing partner Hal Steinbrenner inadvertently confirmed these rumors, particularly the role Soto’s family played in his decision. When asked whether he was surprised by Soto’s move to the Mets, Steinbrenner responded, “I wouldn’t say I was surprised, but I really didn’t know what to expect. I didn’t know what was going to happen. Juan’s got a big family. They were all very involved, so there were a lot of different voices in his ear talking to him and giving him advice, and I really just didn’t know. So, I wouldn’t say I wasn’t surprised; I was certainly disappointed.”
On his Baseball Today podcast, Rose’s co-host, Trevor Plouffe, asked if Steinbrenner’s comment about Soto’s family was a subtle jab. Rose responded by saying it was more than a subtle remark, describing it as a clear dig. He explained that Steinbrenner was essentially saying, “There are a lot of cooks in that kitchen with Juan Soto.” According to Rose, the Yankees’ owner was pointing out that Soto had to answer to many people, making the negotiation process far more complicated than simply meeting with Soto one-on-one. This insight into the behind-the-scenes dynamics suggested that Soto’s family played a larger role in his decision-making than initially thought.