Mets’ Steve Cohen Was Not Convinced He Did Enough in Pursuit of Juan Soto

Dec 12, 2024; Flushing, NY, USA; New York Mets owner Steve Cohen speaks to the media during a Juan Soto introductory press conference at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Steve Cohen was not 100% convinced that Juan Soto was coming to Flushing Queens.

Hours before the New York Mets and Juan Soto agreed to the largest contract in sports late Sunday night, owner Steve Cohen was not convinced he did enough to lure the slugger to Flushing, Queens.

Cohen told ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Buster Olney that when he was having dinner on Sunday night at Vitolo, a restaurant in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, with a friend, he was not fully convinced he did enough in trying to sign the generational talent.

Even after Cohen tried to highlight the family atmosphere around the franchise that has sold free agents in the past to the All-Star outfielder, he still was worried that was not enough.

However, when a not-so-confident Cohen received a phone call from Soto’s agent Scott Boras during his dinner, the tone of the conversation and Cohen’s confidence quickly turned around with both sides coming to an agreement on a record-setting 15-year, $675 million contract.

“Usually I’m pretty good at reading the signals. This one I totally missed,” Cohen said to ESPN. “Scott called me, and I realized, ‘Holy s—. This could happen’ I didn’t expect it. I had no expectations it was going to happen. I was blown away.”

Just like Cohen, the entire baseball world was blown away about Soto signing with the Amazins’ after spending one season playing for the New York Yankees, who offered him a 16-year, $760 million deal.

Soto was traded to the Yankees from the San Diego Padres last December and had a career year in his lone season for the Bronx Bombers.

The 26-year-old slashed .288/.419/.569 with a career-high 41 home runs and 109 RBI in 157 regular season games.

Now with Soto officially a Met after his introductory press conference on Thursday at Citi Field, Cohen and the Mets front office are looking forward to seeing if Soto can help deliver a championship or multiple to the franchise after a dramatic free agency process.

Related Posts

🚨BREAKING: MOKIE BETTS LEAVES DODGERS TRAINING CAMP DUE TO PERSONAL REASON – FOUR-TIME WORLD SERIES CHAMPION TEMPORARILY LEAVES TEAM BEFORE NEW SEASON. The Dodgerѕ ѕtаr’ѕ unexрected аbѕence hаѕ fаnѕ ѕрeculаtіng—whаt could thіѕ meаn for the uрcomіng ѕeаѕon? Wіll Bettѕ be bаck іn tіme for Oрenіng Dаy, or wіll the teаm need to аdjuѕt wіthout hіm? The uncertаіnty loomѕ lаrge. 👀👇

Juѕt weekѕ before Oрenіng Dаy, the Loѕ аngeleѕ Dodgerѕ were unexрectedly hіt wіth newѕ thаt cаught fаnѕ’ аttentіon: ѕuрerѕtаr Mookіe Bettѕ hаѕ temрorаrіly left the teаm’ѕ ѕрrіng…

🚨SHOCKING: BLAKE SNELL’S SHOULDER INJURY COULD DERAIL DODGERS’ 2026 SEASON — WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR LA’S PLAYOFF HOPES? Blаke Snell’ѕ іnjury іѕ рuttіng а ѕerіouѕ dent іn the Dodgerѕ’ rotаtіon, аnd fаnѕ аre left wonderіng іf thіѕ іѕ the ѕetbаck they cаn’t аfford. Cаn the teаm recover, or іѕ thіѕ the begіnnіng of а rough ѕeаѕon for Loѕ Angeleѕ? The рreѕѕure іѕ on. 👀👇

The Loѕ аngeleѕ Dodgerѕ, lіke every other MLB teаm, аre geаrіng towаrdѕ а long ѕeаѕon. Conѕіderіng the Dodgerѕ won the World ѕerіeѕ lаѕt yeаr, аnd Blаke ѕnell gаve…

🚨SHOCKING: ROMAN ANTHONY COULD BE THE SECRET TO THE RED SOX’S 2026 WORLD SERIES RUN — IS HE THE NEXT MLB SUPERSTAR? Anthony’s potential is sky-high, and the Red Sox are betting big on him for 2026—can he live up to the hype and deliver when it counts? Fans are buzzing with excitement as the future of Boston’s lineup rests on his shoulders. 👀👇

Getty The Red ѕox аre lookіng to bounce bаck from theіr Wіld Cаrd ѕerіeѕ loѕѕ. The key to thаt mаy be outfіelder Romаn аnthony. The Boѕton Red ѕox reаched…

🚨SHOCKING: ROMY GONZALEZ FACES SETBACK — CAN THE RED SOX SURVIVE HIS ABSENCE FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS? The young star’s injury has left Boston fans worried—how will the Red Sox fill the void in their lineup, and what does this mean for their playoff hopes? The team’s resilience will be tested early in the season. 👀👇

Getty Red Sox showing trade interest in pair of Cubs players. The Boston Red Sox are two weeks away from Opening Day. Spring training is winding down. The roster…

Unbelievable!! 😥 Jordan Westburg of the Baltimore Orioles opened up with an emotional admission about the injury he’s been battling. His honest message has resonated with fans as the young star works toward returning to the field in Major League Baseball.

Jordan Westburg Opens Up About Emotional Frustration as Orioles Star Recovers From Elbow Injury The Baltimore Orioles will begin the 2026 MLB season without one of their…

🔥 Atlanta Braves superstar Ronald Acuña Jr. has history on his side as he heads toward the 2026 season after posting a remarkable 41-home run, 73-stolen base pace. If he can replicate that elite power-speed combination, Acuña could once again be one of the most electrifying players in Major League Baseball.

Ronald Acuña Jr. Could Return to MVP Form in 2026 as Atlanta Braves Star Follows Familiar Comeback Pattern For superstar outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., overcoming adversity has…