Juan Soto Agrees to Sign With Mets, Spurning Yankees

 The New York Mets have won the Juan Soto sweepstakes. 

The news became official just before 10 p.m. Sunday as New York Post columnist Jon Heyman broke the story that Soto, the games' most prized free agent slugger, had signed a record setting 15-year, $756 million contract with the Mets. 

While that comes to $51 million annually, the contract will include plenty of deferrals, obviously. The terms of the deal at this moment are still not fully known. 

What is obvious is that Mets owner Steve Cohen did something that no prior Mets ownership group could do and that is beat the Yankees to the punch. He was willing to go all in for the best player on the market and got him. 

There was speculation as last as Saturday that the Mets and Yankees were competing for Soto with the Mets at $735 million, and the Yankees at $710 million. But according to the Post, the Yankees did come in at $760 million over 16 years, which more than doubled the money the Yankees gave Aaron Judge now two off-seasons ago, but it was not enough to reel Soto back to the Bronx. 

He took the extra five million from Uncle Steve. 

Talk about a rivalry. 

This move is going to change the dynamics of both the Mets, the Yankees and baseball. For starters, it means a lot of free agents are going to circle the Mets as a possible destination, especially if Cohen is willing to go all in to bring them in. 

Second, with the Mets willing and able to flex their muscle - even in this economy -- the Yankees take a huge hit. Now they have to compete not only on the field with a team as financially viable as they are, but one that can beat them to the punch. 

This is the shift Mets fans had been dreaming of for years, especially after Cohen bought the team from the frugal Wilpon's. 

The Mets are big time players now. After last season's miraculous postseason run, plus rave reviews from players about the team culture and atmosphere, the Mets are going to be a hot destination. 

Now the Mets have to still do their part come the season and win games. The expectation now is World Series or bust. You don't make a move like this and not expect the expectations to change.  

Soto has a World Series ring with the Washington Nationals, and single-handedly carried the Yankees to the World Series with his series clinching blast over Cleveland in Game 5 of the ALCS. 

The challenge will be for David Stearns and company to fill out the roster under the constraints of their budget. 

The Mets desperately need pitching, and already took risky gambles signing Frankie Montas and Clay Holmes as starters. 

Then there is the future of Pete Alonso. Where will he go? Will he stay with the Mets, or will he leave. There hasn't been much traction reported between the two sides. A lot of people believe Alonso has played his last day in a Mets uniform. And if that is the case, it's a sad day, because Alonso was such a valuable piece to this team. And a clutch one at that. 

The Mets are going to miss Alonso's presence not only in the batting order, but in the clubhouse. 

As for the Yankees they have a chance to do the funniest thing ever. Sign Alonso to spite the Mets.