Yankees' Marcus Stroman warns fans about treatment of Mets' Juan Soto

New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto heard some boos from upset New York Yankees fans related to his offseason move from the Bronx Bombers to the Amazins during Monday's spring training game between the clubs.

Yankees starting pitcher Marcus Stroman shared a clubhouse with Soto last season and, thus, knows plenty about how the 26-year-old could respond to such reactions from opposing supporters. 

"Sometimes you want to let a sleeping bear lie," Stroman warned fans about booing Soto during future games, per Max Goodman of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "You don’t want to get that guy riled up. He’s the last guy you want to get riled up. I feel like when he gets riled up, he locks in better than anybody in the world. Maybe don’t boo him. Maybe just be silent."

One heckling fan learned such a lesson the hard way earlier in spring training after he referred to Soto as "overpaid" and "overrated" during a game. Soto subsequently blasted a home run in that person's direction. 

"You know New Yorkers, man," Stroman said on Monday. "I’m sure it’s not going to be great, but you’ll never catch me booing [Soto]. That makes it fun, too. He’s someone that eats that up."

Back in October, Soto broke the hearts of Cleveland Guardians fans when he launched a dramatic home run in downtown Cleveland that propelled the Yankees to a World Series berth. However, the then-Yankees hero ultimately became a villain among those who previously adored him when a "family decision" resulted in the slugger accepting a 15-year, $765M contract that could exceed $800M total to join the Mets in free agency. 

The Mets and Yankees are scheduled to play a three-game series in the Bronx that gets underway on May 16. As much as Stroman may want those in attendance to give Soto a warm welcome that evening, the right-hander acknowledged on Monday that many will ignore his advice later this spring.

"You guys see it," Stroman added during his comments. "The pressure. The moments. He eats that up. He’s someone who wants that." 

According to Neil Best of Newsday, former Mets and Yankees pitcher/current ESPN and YES Network analyst David Cone said during a Monday video conference that he feels it will be "must-watch television" every time Soto faces the Yankees while wearing a Mets uniform. One wonders if the Yankees will ultimately regret not honoring Soto via a "thank you" video on the evening of May 16.