According to former MLB player Carlos Baerga, Juan Soto has decided to sign for the New York Mets for a $700 million contract.
Baerga made the claim on social media Tuesday evening, saying, “Well, my people, these messages come directly. I think Juan Soto will sign with the NY Mets and it’s about 700 million, my people.”
Baerga shared his update along with a report that Mets midfielder Jose Siri said he would give up his No. 22 jersey for Soto if he were to join the team.
There has been no official confirmation from Soto or the Mets, who are in the running along with several other organizations such as the Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as the Toronto Blue Jays.
Baerga formerly played for the Mets and has worked as an analyst on Spanish baseball coverage for ESPN since his retirement in 2005.
Soto is a free agent after spending last year with the New York Yankees, during which the team lost the World Series to the Dodgers.
Juan Soto is apparently ditching the pinstripes and heading to the New York Mets
Soto will sign a $700 million deal with the Mets, according to former MLB player Carlos Baerga
Joining Aaron Judge in an explosive Yankees lineup, the 26-year-old was extremely popular at Yankee Stadium – a reputation he would immediately destroy if he moved from the Bronx to Queens.
The left-hander hit 41 home runs in the regular season for the Yankees, who, if Baerga is right, should now turn their focus to rebuilding their 2025 roster.
One player they could root for is a former Met. First baseman Pete Alonso is also in free agency after his Citi Field contract expired and the Yankees need a replacement for Anthony Rizzo.
But make no mistake: Soto joining the crosstown rivals in New York would be a huge blow to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
The Mets overcame a brutal start last season — they had the third-worst record in MLB in early June — to reach the NLCS, where they were defeated by the Dodgers in six minutes.
If Carlos Mendoza were to win free agency’s biggest prize, it would be a big statement.
Soto toyed with his fans earlier on Tuesday by sharing a video on Instagram with the caption: “The announcement you’ve been waiting for.”
But actually it was Soto who announced a deal to promote a drink. However, Yankees fans looking for hope that Baerga is wrong will find it in the comments section of Soto’s latest post.
Soto liked a comment on the post that said, “Juan – you’re stressing me out! New York wants you here #Yankeesforlife #pinstripepride’.
Johnny Damon, the 2009 World Series winner with the Yankees, responded with three-eyed emojis to the post, which also received a like from Soto.