Juan Soto expresses gratitude to Yankees fans while reflecting on his bond with Aaron Judge and former teammates after joining the Mets
New York: It was just one season, but wow, what a ride it was for Juan Soto in pinstripes.
He helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009, bringing a spark to the Bronx that fans hadn’t felt in ages. Now, seeing him in a Mets jersey is a bit of a heartbreaker.
Even though Soto is heading to Queens for the next 15 years, he took a moment to show love to Yankees fans.
“I want to say thank you. They really showed me all the love and everything they have all summer,” he said at his introductory press conference. “They were there day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart.”
It’s tough to leave that kind of support behind, especially when fans were chanting his name and holding signs urging the Yankees to keep him. The Yankees even offered a whopping $760 million over 16 years, but it just wasn’t enough.
Soto mentioned, “It’s hard to leave all the love [the fans] gave me. At the end of the day, we sat down with my family and saw what was best for me, and we made the decision.”
He emphasized that it wasn’t about the Yankees not doing enough. He praised all the teams that showed interest but felt that the Mets were the right choice for his family.
What about his old teammates? Soto said he hasn’t talked to any of them since the playoffs, including Aaron Judge, but he plans to catch up soon.
“At the end of the day, we’re still friends, still cool,” he noted. “Everything that happens is just business. The relationships we created last year will stay there forever.”
This past season was a standout for Soto, hitting a career-high 41 home runs and driving in 109 RBIs, thanks in part to batting in front of Judge.
“Having a guy like Judge is incredible,” Soto shared. “He’s one of the best guys I’ve ever played with. It’s amazing what he can do.”
Now, Soto will team up with Francisco Lindor, another star player, for the foreseeable future.
It’ll be interesting to see how Yankees fans react when Soto returns to the Bronx. Luckily, we won’t have to wait long, as the Yankees will host the Mets in May 2025.