Insider discusses if Juan Soto could pick Mets over Yankees in free agency

Soto revealed ahead of Opening Day he wants to sign a long-term deal this fall that, theoretically, could allow him to finish his career with the club responsible for that contract. 

The 25-year-old seems to be enjoying life with the Yankees after he joined them from the San Diego Padres via a December trade, but Ghiroli indicated in Wednesday's piece that Soto, along with agent Scott Boras, ultimately will want to reset the market after the 2024 World Series. 

Enter the previously mentioned Cohen, who made it known as recently as Wednesday he doesn't "care about the cost side" of owning the Mets coming off what many deemed to be an underwhelming offseason for the organization. While the Yankees have opened the ongoing campaign at 6-1, the Mets began Thursday at 0-4. 

"He is the guy there bar none," Ghiroli said about Soto possibly picking the Mets over the Yankees later this year. "...He could go and be the guy with the Mets." 

Ghiroli added that "everything we know" about key clubhouse figures within the Mets such as shortstop Francisco Lindor and utility man Jeff McNeil leads her to believe they'd happily let Soto thrive in the spotlight of being the club's main star.  

The Yankees, of course, feature 2022 American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge as their captain. 

"If Steve Cohen says, 'Let's go. I don't care what he wants. We're going to win this,'" Ghiroli continued, "...Scott Boras and Juan Soto, based on what they have said, based on their past, I find it very hard to believe that they would leave money on the table when it comes to this negotiation." 

Ghiroli concluded that the Mets "have a real actual chance" to win the Soto sweepstakes. Doing so may have to include Cohen outbidding Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner and every other club by a considerable amount depending on all that occurs this season. 

The fact nevertheless remains that Ghiroli thinks Soto would make the crosstown move for a so-called "Godfather offer" neither he nor Boras would be willing to refuse.