Juan Soto's decision to sign with the Mets was made all the more so by Amazin's focus on family and what they could do to get the superstar slugger on board. It has become clear.
According to the newspaper's Jon Heyman, the Mets rarely offered family benefits in player contracts. Previously reported suites at Citi Field included four “premium” tickets and family security for 15 years. According to a contract summary obtained by the newspaper, Soto will receive “a luxury suite at every home game, four premium seats at every home game, security and family services for players and their families at home and on the go.” Become.
It is unclear what “family services” refers to, but there is no evidence that Soto or his family received air allowances or clothing, as has been reported elsewhere.
It's clear that Mets owner Steve Cohen and his family value the family atmosphere that Cohen's wife, Alex, has emphasized since Cohen bought the ballclub. Alex and her father, Ralph Avila, 93, the team's co-owner, attended the first meeting between the Mets and Soto at the Cohen family's home in Beverly Hills in November.
The Mets beat out the Yankees' offer for just $5 million (and one year less) earlier this month, handing Soto a record 15-year, $765 million contract.
The Yankees made a financial offer that exceeded previous expectations, but refused to include a suite at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees wanted to add suites because a precedent had been set that the Yankees' biggest stars, now Aaron Judge and before that, Derek Jeter, paid for suites at Yankee Stadium. There wasn't. The Yankees were willing to discount the suite, which is worth up to $1 million a year.
Suite prices for a single game at Citi Field range from $3,250 to $13,000, depending on the date and opponent. Yankee Stadium Suites have a higher average price.
Soto was also said to have been angry with security at Yankee Stadium after they removed his family and their chef/driver from a certain area, and the Yankees were forced to deal with the early-season incident. Although he was aware, Yankees GM Brian Cashman said Soto's security guard knew about it. The camp never mentioned it during negotiations that lasted more than a month.
Mr. Cashman did not raise these incidents as issues at the winter meeting.
“But it unfolds [in media]”The suite was the problem.” It was like, “Was it true?'' Cashman said.
Regarding security-related incidents, Cashman said: But if it was that big of a deal, I would have heard from him. [agent] Scott Boras. ”
