The New York Mets and their $21 billion owner, Steve Cohen, are gearing up for potentially one of the most expensive offseasons in professional sports history.
Last offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers dished out over $1 billion in total contractual value and the Mets have the potential to match that this winter.
All of that money centers around New York Yankees superstar free agent Juan Soto. Soto is projected to land a contract in the $600 million to $670 million range with some projections even venturing toward $700 million.
Earlier this week, the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox had in-person meetings with Soto and they reportedly went well for all involved.
Cohen and the Mets finally had their first meeting with Soto and Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that their meeting was productive as well.
"Word is the Mets presentation was a 'big production' and 'very detailed,'" Heyman wrote. "But one person suggested the Mets are "hopeful" — and maybe even optimistic — about their chances to win easily the biggest prize of this free-agent class. Sources say Mets baseball president David Stearns and manager Carlos Mendoza joined Cohen for the California confab, and are also said to have made a positive impression."
The Mets are seen as one of the top teams in the Soto sweepstakes for a few reasons. Having the richest owner in sports means that money likely won't be an issue. But New York also has Francisco Lindor and a promising cast of talent to place Soto in the middle of.
The incumbent team in the race, the Yankees, is set to meet with Soto this week as well.
The Soto sweepstakes are just beginning and it's only going to get crazier from here.
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