As teams will reportedly begin submitting offers to Juan Soto this week, Chris McMonigle says he could see a world where the free agent superstar is using the Mets to increase the price for the team that he ultimately wants to sign with: the Yankees.
“Here’s my honest opinion,” C-Mac said. “I honestly believe he wants to be a Yankee and is jacking up the price...there’s a chance Hal Steinbrenner won’t pay anywhere near where Steve Cohen is willing to go, but if the Yankees are willing to go above $700 million...he’s a Yankee if they do that.
“Best-case scenario for the Yankees is that he would like to be a Yankee and wants the most money in baseball, and Scott Boras make a phone call.”
There is the chance that Cohen raises the price by more than Steinbrenner’s liking, and Soto chooses the Mets even if the Yankees are his first choice. But C-Mac believes Steinbrenner knows what’s at stake and saw the impact Soto had on the team last year, and will do what’s necessary to keep him. If he doesn’t, it will be disastrous for the Yanks, and would be a “first step” in the Mets’ little brother label evaporating.
“If it’s reported that that’s what it took and the Yankees didn’t go there, I will kill the Yankees,” C-Mac said.
“Signing Soto away from the Yankees...that is a dynamic shift in some ways in the city, but ultimately, it has to be followed by winning.”