Last offseason, the biggest story was undoubtedly that of Dominican Juan Soto, who reached an agreement for $765 million dollars, which shocked the world of baseball and sport, not only because of the enormous agreement, but also because it was a message of a new economic recovery for MLB.
But behind the news, there was a path of great tension and significant decisions, especially those made by Soto himself that almost sank the whole negotiation process.
In the end, with the help of his agent Scott Boras, an unprecedented deal was forged in the sport.
“When the Nationals offered Juan a record $440 million contract, which at the time was the largest in the sport, I asked Juan: ‘What are your goals?’ And he replied: ‘I want to win'”, Boras revealed during an interview with Graham Bensinger.
While the Nationals were eager to retain Juan Soto with a record offer, there was no guarantee that the team would be competitive.
Soto had helped Washington win a World Series title in 2019, but with uncertainty over ownership, the team’s priority seemed to be more aligned with using Soto for marketing and branding purposes than addressing the needs of a team that finished 71-91 last season.
The importance of a high-caliber agent like Scott Boras
And that’s where the skill of an agent like Boras comes in.
It made Soto realise that his goal is to win, and that he plays to win consistently. So, as the Nationals prepared to sell the team, he realised that staying in Washington no longer aligned with his ambitions. And so began Juan Soto’s rise to something greater.
The next trip, however, was short-lived. The Nationals traded Soto to the San Diego Padres and eventually to the New York Yankees. But that set the stage for Soto to take a hard line with Mets owner Steve Cohen.
Negotiations between Boras and Cohen were another point in the process, and it was a challenge that Boras eagerly accepted.
The challenge was to get Cohen to open the door to a generational talent. Despite intense and sometimes stressful negotiations, both sides finally got what they wanted.
The path was cleared for Soto to sign a historic 15-year contract and become the highest-paid athlete in the history of the sport.
On the other hand, Cohen added a true cornerstone to the Mets roster, with the aim of ending decades of frustration and giving the Queens fans several World Series titles, something the franchise has not achieved since 1986.
Juan Soto’s turnaround
After a slow start, Soto is now starting to look like the offensive force Mets fans were promised. And he’s also contributing surprising improvements on defense.
In the last few series, Soto has turned things around (eight home runs and 20 RBIs). Now you can see that Soto’s lines are decreasing, the power is emerging and the confidence is visible in every at-bat.
Soto’s resurgence is more than just a personal victory. It is becoming a turning point in the Mets’ season. His presence in the lineup provides protection and consistency. If his current trajectory continues, Soto will be remembered as Cohen’s best investment to date.
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