Newly signed New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto reportedly faced a troubling experience during his brief stint with the Yankees. According to Jon Heyman of the NY Post, Soto harbored “negative feelings” stemming from an incident earlier this year at Yankee Stadium.
Juan Soto’s departure from Yankees tied to Stadium incident
Heyman shared on MLB Network that in April or May, a Yankees security guide removed one of Soto’s parents from a restricted area in the stadium. The issue didn’t stop there; the same security guide reportedly forced Juan Soto’s driver and chef to wait outside in the rain later in the season.
Heyman addressed the matter directly with Juan Soto following the Yankees’ World Series loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.
“Soto is a family guy, he was not too happy at the time,” Heyman said.
The 26-year-old’s departure from the Yankees after one season resulted in a historic move across town. Juan Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, the largest contract in professional sports history.
Despite the Yankees’ efforts—offering Soto a 16-year, $760 million deal—Soto opted for the Mets’ lucrative offer, which ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported includes escalators pushing the total above $800 million with no deferments.
This signing underscores the shift in New York’s baseball landscape. Once the gold standard for landing marquee free agents, the Yankees have struggled to secure top-tier talent in recent years. These setbacks have contributed to their ongoing drought since their 27th World Series title in 2009.
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