May 4, 2025; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto (22) jogs off the field in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Vizer-Imagn Images Tim Vizer-Imagn Images

Yankees staff member makes harsh admission about Mets' Juan Soto

Originally posted on New York Mets on SI | By Grant Young | Last updated May 23, 2025 8:00 AM ET

When deciding on which team he would spend the vast majority of his MLB career with this past offseason, superstar slugger Juan Soto ultimately narrowed his options down to the New York Mets and the New York Yankees.

Of course, he ultimately went with the Mets, signing a 15-year, $765 million deal with the club in December. This has made him public enemy No. 1 at Yankee Stadium, which was shown by his reception when the Mets came to the Bronx last weekend.

The Yankees made an impressively quick pivot after losing the Juan Soto sweepstakes, as they signed left-handed ace Max Fried just a few days after his decision while also bringing veteran hitters Paul Goldschmidt and Cody Bellinger on board. They also traded for former Milwaukee Brewers closer Devin Williams.

BREAKING: Left-hander Max Fried and the New York Yankees are in agreement on a eight-year, $218 million contract, pending physical, sources tell ESPN. It is the largest guarantee in baseball history for a left-handed pitcher.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 10, 2024

Williams has been below average for the Yankees so far, Bellinger has been decent, but Fried and Goldschmidt have both been fantastic. And given how much Soto signed for, the Yankees likely wouldn't have been able to add Fried or Goldschmidt if they'd secured Soto.

This seemed to be the sentiment a member of the Yankees staff shared with New York Post MLB insider Jon Heyman, which he shared in a May 22 article.

Bleacher Report's Andrew Peters quoted Heyman in the article, writing, "Per the New York Post's Jon Heyman, a Yankees staff member said they are 'definitely' better off without Soto."

https://t.co/OzoUY0nRNa. MLB Friday notes: How Soto became a Met and what’s going on now plus notes on Baty, Mauricio, O’s manager candidates, Lowe, Skenes, more
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) May 22, 2025

While this staff member might have a point right now (given Soto's slow start), they might end up eating their words once the 26-year-old Mets right fielder inevitably catches fire.

This article first appeared on New York Mets on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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