Yankees icon turns Soto talk into pointed message for Steinbrenner, Cashman

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As Juan Soto prepares for his first return to Yankee Stadium wearing Mets colors, the narrative surrounding his offseason Yankees departure continues to evolve. Now, one of the Yankees’ most respected voices has offered perspective that cuts straight to the organization’s core.

David Cone, championship pitcher turned broadcaster who holds unique credibility with both New York franchises, raised eyebrows with candid remarks suggesting Soto’s decision transcended mere financial considerations.

“To tell you the truth, Jay, I wasn’t surprised at all,” Cone revealed during a May 14 appearance on “Amazin’ Conversations with Jay Horwitz.” “Because of going back to the Old Timers Day… with the Mets, I got a chance to meet the ownership. I got to meet Mr. and Mrs. Cohen. And I saw first-hand how dynamic they are, how warm they are.”

“I could see them selling Juan Soto and his family on a family atmosphere with the Mets. And that’s what’s going on in Queens right now. That’s the dynamic.”

Though measured in delivery, Cone’s assessment lands as an unmistakable criticism of the current Yankees leadership under Hal Steinbrenner and Brian Cashman. Beyond contracts and statistics, Cone points toward something more fundamental: organizational culture.

Cone’s remarks: Reading between lines

The power of Cone’s observation lies not in emotional rhetoric but in informed perspective. As a five-time World Series champion intimately familiar with both organizations, he recognizes the components of championship environments. His carefully delivered assessment implies that Mets owner Steve Cohen and team president Sandy Alderson have cultivated qualities the Yankees have gradually surrendered: authenticity, family-oriented culture, and player-focused leadership.

This represents an implicit critique of Steinbrenner and Cashman, whose public reticence and transaction-centered management approach may have alienated one of baseball’s premier talents.

The Soto-Judge debate: Who is the best

Following a remarkable 2024 campaign where Soto posted a .288/.419/.569 slash line with 41 home runs, 109 RBIs, and a league-leading 128 runs scored, conventional wisdom suggested the Yankees would retain the 25-year-old star, particularly after a World Series appearance powered by his partnership with Aaron Judge.

Instead, Yankees faithful watched in disbelief as Soto signed with their crosstown rivals. While media outlets framed it as an organizational failure, Cone’s perspective suggests the outcome may have been inevitable regardless of financial terms.

“I can absolutely understand why Juan Soto and his family picked the Mets,” he added.

This assessment implicitly addresses what many Yankees supporters have quietly suspected: the Steinbrenner-Cashman regime lacks the personal connection and player-centric environment once synonymous with the franchise.

Judge dominates while Soto struggles to settle

As Soto adapts to Queens, Judge has launched an early MVP campaign that threatens to overshadow his former teammate completely.

Through mid-May, the Yankees’ captain tops MLB leaderboards across virtually every offensive category:

• Batting average: .409
• Home runs: 15
• RBIs: 41
• WAR: 3.4
• Total bases: 120
• OPS: 1.279
• OPS+: 257

Additionally, Judge leads all players in slugging percentage (.782), on-base percentage (.497), and runs scored (38). Despite limited offensive support from a lineup where Ben Rice and Cody Bellinger frequently surround him, Judge continues carrying the Yankees atop the AL East standings.

Meanwhile, Soto has produced more modest numbers with the Mets, slashing .252/.372/.451 alongside eight home runs, 19 RBIs, and 1.5 WAR. While maintaining his trademark plate discipline (30 walks against 29 strikeouts), his overall impact trails significantly behind Judge’s historic pace.

Metrics confirm performance gap

Advanced statistics reinforce this disparity. Judge dominates Statcast leaderboards, ranking in the 100th percentile for hard-hit rate, barrel percentage, and exit velocity. His average launch angle (18.9 degrees) facilitates towering home runs, contrasting with Soto’s line-drive oriented 10.7 degrees.

Soto’s chase rate (68%) shows considerably less discipline than Judge’s remarkable 15%, highlighting how consistently pitchers must challenge Judge in the strike zone – and how regularly he capitalizes on those opportunities.

Despite Soto batting ahead of established stars Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor, this protection hasn’t significantly elevated his production. Judge continues dominating with historic efficiency despite frequently batting alongside less established teammates.

Production vs. payroll perspective

The statistical comparison creates an even sharper financial contrast. Judge outperforms Soto across every significant metric while earning $11 million less annually.

In baseball’s increasingly value-conscious landscape, the Yankees appear to have retained the more productive asset, yet still bear the reputational cost of losing Soto to what Cone suggests was an environmental factor rather than a fiscal decision.

Subway series showdown approaches

The Yankees and Mets commence their 2025 Subway Series this weekend in the Bronx, featuring Judge and Soto as direct opponents. Yankees supporters will likely offer Soto a chilly reception, particularly following his comments downplaying the matchup’s significance.

“I think the Subway Series is just another series where we have to go out there and try to win,” Soto told NJ.com on May 14. “We have to keep moving forward, forget about who we’re going to face.”

For Yankees fans, however, this series represents anything but routine competition. It serves as a referendum on organizational priorities, front office decisions, and whether Steinbrenner and Cashman made the correct choice – if they ever truly had one.

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