Juan Soto Embraces Yankees Fans, Bittersweet Goodbye on Record-Breaking Deal
Juan Soto beamed with excitement as he donned his new New York Mets jersey during an introductory press conference. But for New York Yankees fans, the sight of their former star in Mets colors likely added fuel to the fire of their lingering frustration.
Soto addressed a media scrum and delivered a message to Yankees fans who had hoped he would return on a similar deal to the Mets’ record-breaking $765 million offer. “I want to say thank you to them,” Soto said, via SNY. “They really showed me all the love and everything they had last year. They were there day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart at the end of the day. Tough that we couldn’t get it together and try to be back and stuff like that. But definitely I’ll always appreciate what they did for me in 2024.”
Yankees fans had showered Soto with “Re-sign Soto!” chants during games, brought in fake blank checks, and shown their appreciation for the star right fielder who had a career year with the team. However, Soto ultimately chose to join the Mets, leaving a bitter taste in the mouths of Yankees fans. Despite the disappointment, Soto acknowledged the love shown him by Yankees fans in 2024.
At the press conference, Soto also revealed he had not spoken to any Yankees teammates since the World Series, which the team lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers. When asked about his choice to join the Mets, Soto expressed confidence in the team’s ability to win, stating, “I think we have the best chance to win here.”