Mets’ Juan Soto: ‘Haven’t Talked to’ Judge, Ex-Yankees Teammates Since World Series
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Juan Soto says he hasn’t spoken with any of his former New York Yankees teammates, presumably including Aaron Judge, since the team lost Game 5 of the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“I haven’t talked to any of those guys,” Soto said on Thursday, the day after finalizing a 15-year, $765 million contract to join the New York Mets. “We’ve talked to them through the playoff, at the end of the playoff, but after that… I haven’t talked to any.”
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Juan Soto has not spoken with any of his Yankees teammates since the end of the World Series pic.twitter.com/5OoikmrAbi
The Yankees lost out in a bidding war with the Mets after offering Soto $760 million over 16 years, according to the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman.
Soto told reporters on Thursday that he would say he had a good experience with the Yankees since joining the team following his 2023 trade from the San Diego Padres.
“I feel like they did that they had in their power to help me out, to bring me back, but I have other four teams doing the same thing and trying to make me feel comfortable,” Soto said.
“At the end, we look at everything. We look at the chances and we look at what other teams wanted to do, and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years. And I think we have the best chance to win here.”
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Juan Soto with some insight on why he chose the Mets over the Yankees.
“I think we have the best chance to win here.” pic.twitter.com/ZUwaRZYE8s
Soto also thanked Yankees fans during his first interviews as a Met.
“I want to say thank you,” Soto said. “I actually just want to say thank you to them. They really showed me all the love, and everything that they have, last year. They were right 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’m always gonna appreciate what they did for me in 2024.”
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Juan Soto gives a message to Yankees fans:
“I want to say thank you. They really showed me all the love and everything that they have. They have a spot in my heart.” pic.twitter.com/gonEbM9ILY
The Yankees and Mets came closest in terms of money. According to Heyman, the Mets’ deal may have been differentiated by “relatively small things” including a higher signing bonus, a fifth-year opt out and a suite for his family.
Judge said multiple times since October that he was not in communication with Soto as his former teammate weighed a return to the Yankees against offers from other teams.
The Yankees captain told reporters on Oct. 24, one day prior to Game 1 of the World Series, that he hadn’t discussed free agency with Soto. He then took a similar stance when asked for an update on his communication with Soto in late November.
“I think the best thing is to really give those guys space,” Judge said on Nov. 22, per SNY. “You know, I talked to him all season and he knows how we feel about him.”
Soto, whose .327 postseason batting average was key in leading the Yankees to the World Series as Judge’s offense faltered, will now be taking his services to Queens.
