History of the Mets could be divided into “before and after Juan Soto”

Including Soto’s historic contract, Cohen has guaranteed more than $1.6 billion to players over the past five winters.

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NEW YORK — Regardless of the results of the next three decades, in the future, the history of the New York Mets could be divided into “before and after Juan Soto.”

Soto, who joined the Mets on a historic 15-year, $765 million contract, was introduced Thursday at Citi Field amid an electric news conference led by club owner Steve Cohen.

“It was a tremendous process, there were ups and downs, but thank God we were able to complete what we wanted,” Soto told AM850 Digital about his signing with the Mets in free agency.

“It wasn’t so much the economic part, but what (the Mets) had around them. In the end there were five teams pushing hard on the economic side, but we had to analyze every aspect of each team and I think that for a 15-year future, we have the best opportunities here,” Soto said.

The Mets, who debuted in the Major Leagues alongside the Houston Colts 45s (now Astros) in 1962 as part of the first expansion of the National League, have a losing record (4816-5148, .483), 11 playoff appearances and two World Series titles in 63 tumultuous years of history.

Playing in the shadow of the most winning team in history, the New York Yankeesin the most glamorous city in the country, significantly increased the size of the Queens ensemble’s negative performance.

But part of that began to change when Cohen bought the team for $2.4 billion from the Wilpon family in November 2020. Cohen, a hedge fund manager who is the CEO and president of Point72 Asset Management, owns richest team in the major leagues with a fortune estimated at 21 billion dollars, according to Forbes magazine.

From the first day he took control of the team of which he is a fervent fan, Cohen made it clear that he would not be afraid to invest until he turned Queens into a desired place for the best players.

Including Soto’s historic contract, Cohen has guaranteed more than $1.6 billion to players over the past five winters. To acquire the powerful Dominican hitter, the Mets defeated the proud Yankees, despite the fact that the striped Yankees offered $760 million, something unthinkable a short time ago.

In addition to money, the Yankees have 27 commissioner’s trophies in their cabinet and a reputation for glory and winning tradition. In his only season with the Yankees, Soto hit .288 with 41 home runs, 128 walks, 128 runs scored and 109 RBIs. He placed third in the race for the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, which his teammate won. Aaron Judgeand led them to their first World Series appearance since 2009.

In seven years in MLB, Soto has accumulated 36.4 WAR, has been among the top five for the MVP award five times, won the Silver Slugger five times and attended four editions of the All-Star Game.

Since his debut on May 15, 2018, the 26-year-old leads baseball with 769 walks, 1,719 bases reached and a .421 OBP percentage, and is fourth in OPS (.953), sixth in RBIs (592) and seventh in home runs (201) and slugging (.532).

“This is a defining moment in the history of the franchise,” Cohen said. “Juan Soto is a generational talent. He not only brings with him staggering historical statistics, but also a championship pedigree. Our incredible fan base is so excited to welcome Juan to Queens. Congratulations, Juan,” he added.

The Mets, who won their only World Series titles in 1969 and 1986, advanced to the 2024 National League Championship Series, when they were eliminated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, who later beat the Yankees and Soto in the fall classic.

With a core that includes Soto, the Puerto Rican shortstop Francisco Lindor and several brilliant young people, such as the Dominican-American infielder Mark Winds and the Venezuelan receiver Francisco Alvarezthe Mets are looking to play at least the league final in consecutive years for the first time since 1999-2000.

“I’m already looking forward to writing that lineup with Lindor and Soto and the other guys,” said Venezuelan driver Carlos Mendoza, who competed for the Manager of the Year award in his first season at the helm of the team.

“It will be tremendous to play alongside Francisco Lindor. The energy he brings to the game is incredible, he is an MVP-caliber player and it will be special to have him on my side,” Soto said.

“The goal is to finish the job, which is to win the World Series. “Definitely, my goal is to win the World Series with the Mets,” he added.

“The Mets are a great organization, and what they have done in recent years, by showing all the ability to continue winning, to continue growing a team, to try to grow a dynasty, is one of the most important things. “The future had a lot to do with my decision,” he said.

“It’s a very special, very nice moment,” said Soto, after putting on the Mets’ No. 22 jersey for the first time in his career. “A lot of things happened during this whole process and I feel very happy to make history for Dominican Republic,” he added.

Soto took advantage of his presentation with the Mets to thank the Yankees and clear up some doubts about the primary reasoning he had for moving from one corner to the other in the Big Apple.

“I will always be grateful for the Yankees,” he said. “Tremendous organization, a 1-A group, I have no complaints with them. What they did with me last season was incredible. I had one of the best times of my career and, thank God, I enjoyed the moment,” he noted.

“I believe that the 15 years they (the Mets) offered me to win tipped the balance. The dynasty that Cohen wants to create in this organization will be something very special,” said Soto, who could divide the history of the Mets in two, in the years to come.