The New York Mets’ owner Steve Cohen’s big bucks are not big enough. Since his taking over in 2020, he’s thrown open the checkbook, with the aim of building a championship contender. So, naturally, there are rumors about the Mets pursuing superstar Juan Soto. Randy Miller, too, stated on WFAN Sports Radio, “I fully expect that Juan Soto will be playing in Queens next year.” But hold on to your baseball caps, Mets fans, because having Soto on board might not be as simple as throwing money at the problem.

With so many factors to consider, isn’t it a bit premature to jump to conclusions? There’s more than one reason to believe that Soto in Queens is a long shot. 

Factors That Could Affect Juan Soto’s Joining The New York Mets

There’s A Dire Need For Pitching: Sure, the Mets boast a potent lineup, but their Achilles’ heel has predominantly been pitching. Last season, their starting rotation finished an average of 18th in MLB in ERA. Given that, adding another bat like Soto wouldn’t address their core issue, however exciting it may be. Is it easy to imagine Cohen to be willing to spend big on both pitching and Soto? And will he neglect other areas of the team?

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Prospect Overload, But Not On The Mound: The Mets’ farm system contains a pool of great talent that brims with top-notch position players. In fact, eight of their top ten prospects are hitters, with only two pitchers making the cut. While this is good news on one hand, on the other, the lack of pitching depth evidently weakens their bargaining chip in any potential Soto trade.

Outfield Bottleneck: Cohen already has a young, talented outfielder in Brandon Nimmo locked in as their left fielder. Moreover, he signed a hefty $162 million contract. Not to mention, Soto also primarily plays the outfield. The traffic jam here is evident. There are two things in question here – where will Soto fit in? And will the Mets be willing to trade Nimmo or move him to a new position?

Alonso’s Looming Payday: New York’s home run slugger, Pete Alonso, is due for a significant contract extension soon. The estimates project that his deal could reach $300 million. The financial burden of balancing Soto’s massive contract with Alonso’s upcoming payday could highly restrain their payroll flexibility.

Let’s Talk Rivalries: In the chronicles of Cohen vs. Steinbrenner, the Mets and Yankees are fierce rivals on the field, but the two owners maintain a cordial relationship off the court. Would Cohen be willing to outbid his counterpart? A bidding war tends to spark some potential friction, or worse. What if they drive up Soto’s asking price further?

The Allure of Pinstripes: Let’s not deny, there’s a likelihood of Soto re-signing with the New York Yankees. Almost everyone drools over the allure of being in the Bronx. Additionally, New York offers a huge market and a passionate fanbase. These factors could play a big role in the Yankees-Soto infatuation.

Juan Soto Smashes in Yankees Debut, but Tagged as Temporary: Pay Hesitation Could Send Him to Mets

There’s Something About the North: Wondering what’s brewing in Milwaukee? It’s the Soto sweepstakes. General manager of the Milwaukee Brewers, David Stearns, has a reputation for acquiring young and talented players. More so for acquiring great fielders like the 3x All-Star. With that, the chances of the Mets are thin.

So, here’s the thing. While the idea of the star slugger in a Mets uniform is thrilling, there are a multitude of hurdles to overcome. Ranging from the team’s pitching needs, and prospect imbalance to competition from other big players in the market, the pursuit of Soto is far from being sure. 

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