Some time ago, one of the most impactful pieces of news in the MLB world was Juan Soto’s final decision to join the New York Mets. One of the teams that strongly pursued his services was Aaron Boone’s Yankees, who unfortunately saw the star slip away to their biggest rival.
In a recent interview with the media, Boone himself was asked whether it bothers him that Soto chose Queens over the Bronx. His response was emphatic: “I still think it bothers him,” Boone said with a laugh.
“I guess I did just say that… I loved Juan Soto. I still do,” Boone added when asked whether he was suggesting that it’s Soto who misses the Yankees. “He and I have a really good relationship.
“I obviously loved having the dynamic that he brought to our team, the one-two punch that he and Aaron (Judge) were throughout that year was pretty special. He’s moved on and obviously going to continue to do quite well.”
Soto’s reasons to sign in Queens
Soto chose the Mets primarily due to a $765 million, 15-year offer that outweighed the Yankees‘ 16-year proposal in both total value and Average Annual Value ($51M vs. $47.5M).
Crucially, the deal included no deferred payments, providing immediate liquidity compared to other historic contracts, and featured a massive $75 million signing bonus that secured the largest financial commitment in sports history. Hard to say no to that.
Yankees have already moved on from Soto
The Yankees effectively replaced Soto’s production by leaning on Cody Bellinger’s elite defense and 29 home runs, which perfectly complemented the short porch in right field. This strategic signing allowed Aaron Judge to return to his natural position in right field, where he secured another MVP title with 53 homers.
By integrating the speed of Jazz Chisholm Jr. and the breakout performance of Jasson Dominguez, Aaron Boone transitioned the roster toward a more athletic, versatile lineup that led the majors in outfield WAR.