Soto explains decision to join Mets: Ability to 'grow a dynasty'

Juan Soto is confident the New York Mets will give him the best opportunity to compete for championships throughout the rest of his career.

"The Mets are a great organization, and what they have done in the past couple of years has shown all the ability to keep winning, to keep growing a team, to try to grow a dynasty," Soto said Thursday, per SNY.

Soto spurned the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Los Angeles Dodgers to join the Mets on a record 15-year, $765-million contract on Dec. 8.

"At the end of the day, we looked at everything, we looked at the chances, and what other teams wanted to do, and what everybody wants to do for the next 15 years, and I think we have the best chance to win here," Soto said Thursday, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo.

The Mets are coming off a surprising run that ended in Game 6 of the NLCS, where they lost to the eventual World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said he identified Soto as a prime target when he discussed taking the job with owner Steve Cohen ahead of the 2023 season, according to Tim Healey of Newsday.

Soto helped the Yankees reach the World Series for the first time since 2009 in his only year in The Bronx, and he's grateful for the support he received.

"I want to say thank you to them," Soto said of his affinity for Yankees fans. "They really showed me all the love and everything they have last year. They were right there day in, day out. They really have a spot in my heart."

Soto said he hasn't spoken to any of his Yankees teammates since the end of the season but will look back fondly at the 2024 campaign.

"We're still friends, we're still cool. It's just business," he said. "The relationship that we created last year will stay forever."

Soto will return to Yankee Stadium for the first time with the Mets for a three-game series beginning May 16, 2025.