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It may be December but MLB has had the biggest sports story of the week — this side of Bill Belichick becoming the head coach at UNC — as free agent All-Star outfielder Juan Soto agreed to a massive 15-year contract with the New York Mets. And not only did Soto join the Mets, but he spurned the Yankees in doing so.
Earlier this week, after weeks of recruiting and deliberation, 26-year-old outfielder Juan Soto agreed to a 15-year, $765 million with the New York Mets in a move that will shape the National League and MLB at large for the next decade.
While Soto’s contract would be seismic regardless, the added context only makes the move more dramatic, as he turned down a 16-year, $760 million contract from the New York Yankees — the team he played for in 2024 and helped lead to the 2024 World Series (where they ultimately lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers).
The reporting on what made Soto choose the Mets over the Yankees has already been extensive, with stories of overzealous security guards and weird traditions about paying for stadium suites making the rounds.
Stephen A. Smith has added to the tidal wave of speculation with a more personal note, as he reported on First Take that he heard Soto “wasn’t really feeling” Yankees franchise cornerstone and reigning AL MVP Aaron Judge.
“I’ve heard that Juan Soto wasn’t really feeling Aaron Judge. I don’t know the particulars. I don’t cover the team. But that’s what I heard from people in the Dominican community that I know personally,” Smith told co-host Chris ‘Mad Dog’ Russo.
“But here’s the deal. If you are Juan Soto and you are going up against the Dodgers, and you saw Mookie Betts play the way that he played along with others. And you watch Aaron Judge come up so small in the heat of that competition. Is that what you want to stick with for years to come?”
“You watched Aaron Judge come up so small in the heat of that competition, is that what you want to stick with for years to come?” 😳 @stephenasmith on why Juan Soto left the Yankees for the Mets 👀 pic.twitter.com/bMZPq9yQzE
— First Take (@FirstTake) December 11, 2024
The Mets officially confirmed the signing of Soto, who will wear the #22, on Wednesday night and will introduce him in a press conference on Thursday, December 12.