Since leaving the New York Yankees on December 8 to sign a 15-year, $765 million contract with the Bronx Bombers’ National League crosstown rivals, the New York Mets, the 26-year-old has been taking subtle and not-so-subtle shots at his former team, as well as Yankee fans.
Soto played one season at Yankee Stadium after two years in San Diego. The Padres traded Soto and his $31 million salary to New York for a package of five players. Soto helped the Yankees to their first World Series in 15 years. Soto had the sixth-best Wins Above Replacement number in baseball, 7.9, while hitting 41 home runs with a.989 OPS, the third-best in MLB.
His 2024 numbers were not an anomaly. Soto’s.953 lifetime OPS is third among active players and 23rd all-time. The Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic native is unquestionably one of the best hitters in baseball history.
Soto Made Controversial Claim About New York Baseball
He was rewarded for his performance with an extraordinary, perk-laden deal from Mets owner Steve Cohen. However, that did not satisfy Soto, who felt obligated to say in his introductory news conference that New York City had “been a Mets town for a long time.”
That claim, to put it mildly, did not sit well with the Yankee fan base. Rich Eisen, a big Yankee fan and former ESPN anchor, promptly called Soto out on his Emmy-nominated Rich Eisen Show.
“What’s he talking about?” “Juan, I’ve been in New York City for 55 years,” Eisen stated on his self-titled program. “He has been around for the proverbial New York minute. Dude, get out of here. “Get out of here with that noise!”
Now, a former Yankees All-Star, who spent the final three seasons of his career with the Mets, has delivered a stern response to Soto.
Dellin Betances, a three-time All-Star retired right-handed relief pitcher and native New Yorker who was drafted by his hometown team in the eighth round of the 2006 MLB amateur draft, responded on Friday during an appearance on the Foul Territory TV podcast hosted by former Chicago White Sox catcher A.J. Pierzynski.
New York ‘Always’ a Yankees Town
“It’s always going to be a Yankees town,” Bentances, who grew up in the Bronx near Yankee Stadium, stated. “That’s how I feel.” I am not sure what he was trying to say with it. I admire Juan Soto, but he’s in a circumstance where… I believe that when he joins the Mets, he will be the guy.”
Betances said that, in addition to the lucrative contract, Soto was drawn to the Mets because he wanted to be “the guy”.
Betances stated on the podcast that the Yankees are Judge’s team. “Soto has a shot to be the guy on the Mets, and not to take anything away from (Francisco) Lindor, but Soto receiving that big contract, Lindor has only been with the Mets for four years, whereas Judge grew up with the Yankees and is the captain. “That’s how I feel.”
Soto has exactly 73 days before Opening Day to back up his statements with his bat.
