Once the New York Mets managed to tie up Dominican Juan Soto with a 15-year, $765 million contract, the enthusiasm of the team’s fans skyrocketed and they believe that their team is a strong contender to win the World Series this year.
The owner of the ninth, Steve Cohen, did everything in his power to secure Soto’s arrival and he succeeded, no matter the cost. Cohen was always willing to pay more than any other team and take him from the Bronx to Queens to snatch him from the hands of the Yankees.
With Soto in their lineup, the Mets feel they have unlimited power and feel equally powerful to win the third MLB championship in their history, but it is only the beginning.
What will the Mets’ power be for the next 15 years?
Cohen and general manager David Stearns worked hard on the team’s lineup, and have created a new fantastic duo in the Big Apple with Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto batting one after the other from next season.
The Queens’ attack will be very powerful with the two Latino sluggers in the lineup, but the pitching rotation leaves much to be desired, as reported by clutchpoints.com.
The Mets could put a solution to this if they manage to acquire the services of Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki, who is a young phenomenon who could have one of the most electrifying arms on the planet.
At just 22 years of age, Sasaki will not come to the United States as a free agent as Yoshinobu Yamamoto did last year, but will come to the United States under international amateur free agency rules, similar to the situation several years ago with Shohei Ohtani.
International amateur free agents like Sasaki, Ohtani and the countless teenagers from Latin America who come to the United States each year face strict contractual limits in terms of salary and maximum signing bonuses on their first professional contract.
With this, the Mets will be able to make a competitive offer that will convince Sasaki, who would immediately enter the New York rotation.
Last season, the Mets finished with 89 wins, and the arrival of Soto could give them between five and 10 more wins than the previous season.
If the Mets manage to re-sign Pete Alonso and put him together with most of the 2024 core of hitters, plus the new addition of Soto, the Mets will be in a great position to try to win 100 or more games.
Soto helped boost the Yankees’ win total significantly in 2024 after the disaster that was the 2023 season. There’s no reason he can’t have a similar impact in Queens.
Soto had the best season of his career in 2024 while hitting in front of Yankees captain Aaron Judge, and could be even better with the situation he will enjoy this season.
The Mets’ likely lineup would feature Soto hitting behind Lindor and in front of Alonso, which would give the Dominican protection both in front and behind him, making it almost impossible for any team to dodge the 26-year-old former World Series champion.
The Mets hope to become a new dynasty
Cohen is an investor by nature and did not sign Soto without expecting something in return. The goal is to return the Mets to relevance and win multiple championships over the next decade. Soto will be a big part of those teams and the franchise will need him at his best.
If Soto lives up to his potential in Queens, the Mets should be able to win multiple championships. They will have an elite lineup that will keep them in contention at all times.
If general manager Stearns adds some impact arms and everything fits together for the Mets, they will have all the ingredients to form a major dynasty over the next decade.
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