New York Mets superstar right fielder Juan Soto is setting the record straight: He had no issues with how the New York Yankees treated his family during the 2024 season in the Bronx.
In an interview published by “Grandes en Los Deportes” on Dec. 20, Soto said that any reports or rumors of dissatisfaction with the Yankees’ conduct toward his family weren’t true.
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“That’s a lie,” Soto said, according to MLB reporter Héctor Gómez and other translations of the interview.
“My family was treated very well by the organization,” Soto said, according to The New York Post’s translation, adding he thought the Yankees’ staff was “tremendous.”
The Mets signed Soto to a historic 15-year, $765 million contract (that could reach $805 million) on Dec. 8, a decision influenced, no doubt, by the biggest offer (the Yankees’ was 15 years and $760 million, per reports) but also, according to reports, possibly by a few incidents with Soto’s family and the family atmosphere Mets owner Steve Cohen is cultivating.
On the day after his agreement, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported that Soto was “allegedly upset” about an incident early in the season when an “overzealous” Yankees security guard didn’t let a family member and Soto’s chef/driver into certain areas. The details were sparse, though they dovetailed with the specifics in ESPN’s story and hinted at how much family mattered. And, yes, the Post said Soto forgave, “But the Mets were aware, and you can bet they will make sure nothing like that happens in Queens.”
From ESPN, which dove into how the Mets landed him, on Dec. 12:
Soto’s father had gone to the clubhouse door before a game, sources said, in the hope of bringing food to his eldest son. But he was turned away, in a routine enforcement of rules that were put in place by MLB in the aftermath of the steroid era; in some cases, personal trainers and some family members were found to have served as PED mules.
Another time, someone intending to drive Soto home at the end of a game wanted to wait in a crowded parking lot, and the driver was told to stay outside the area until after the game, per team rules. (Neither Boone nor Cashman was made aware of the two security episodes until well after the World Series.)
According to reports, Soto’s deal with the Mets includes a $75 million signing bonus, a suite at Citi Field — something the Yankees charge their players for — and 22 Delta Club premium seats. The New York Daily News’ Bill Madden also reported that Soto received security for his family and “clothes allowance for his mother.”
According to NJ Advance Media’s Bob Klapisch, “Soto’s immediate family, specifically his mother Belkis Pacheco, appeared to have a soft spot for Cohen and his wife, Alex.”
In the “Grandes en Los Deportes” interview, Soto revealed he’s also received approval from the Mets to play 10 games in the Dominican Winter League during the offseason with the Los Tigres del Licey, though that will begin next year.
Soto hit a career-high 41 home runs last year with the Yankees, while posting a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 109 RBIs. He had a 178 OPS+, the best of his career.
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