TAMPA, Fla. — During the past offseason, Aaron Judge attempted to reach out to Juan Soto, hoping to convince his former teammate to stay with the Yankees and continue their pursuit of championships together. However, it seems those messages may have gone unanswered, possibly sent to https://www.storenymets.com/co....llections/tyler-zube an inactive number. Despite initially giving Soto space to navigate free agency, Judge made a last-ditch effort to keep the star outfielder in the Bronx. Ultimately, Soto chose to sign a massive 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets, citing their superior ability to win as a key factor in his decision.
“That’s his opinion,” Judge said on Monday. “He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him.”
Judge and Soto’s partnership, though brief, was historic. In their lone season together, Judge smashed 58 home runs while Soto added 41, making them just the third pair of Yankees teammates to each hit 40 or more homers in a single season. They joined the legendary duos of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig (1927, ’30, ’31) and Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris (1961). Additionally, Judge (133 walks) and Soto (129 walks) became the first MLB teammates ever to record at least 40 homers and 120 walks in https://www.storenymets.com/co....llections/yoenis-ces the same season. Judge went on to win the American League MVP award unanimously, while Soto, who hit a crucial pennant-winning home run to send the Yankees to the World Series, finished third in the voting.
Now, the two stars are set to become crosstown rivals, with Soto joining the Mets and their stadiums separated by just eight miles and the East River. Judge revealed that he and Soto eventually connected after the deal was finalized, sharing a lighthearted conversation. While seeing Soto in Mets’ orange and blue might take some getting used to, Judge acknowledged that there’s plenty of time to adjust.
“It’s going to be great having him in the town,” Judge said. “We’re going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years.”
The first Subway Series of the season is scheduled for May 16-18 at Yankee Stadium, and Soto can expect a mixed reception from the fans. While Yankees supporters once begged him to stay, his decision to join the Mets will likely result in some harsh reactions, similar to what certain members of the 2017 Houston Astros faced.
It’s worth noting that the Yankees were Soto’s third organization, following his time with the Nationals and Padres. Speculation that Soto might accept a lesser deal to remain in pinstripes, as Judge did during the 2022-23 offseason, proved to be unfounded. Soto enjoyed his time in New York but wasn’t willing to offer a discount.
“I wasn’t too surprised by it,” Judge said. “I think [the Mets are] where he wanted to be. I think that’s what was best for him and his family. He got a pretty nice deal over there. I mean, you can’t say no to that. But I’m happy for [him].”
The Yankees, however, had a backup plan ready. When Soto chose the Mets, the team quickly pivoted to sign left-handed pitcher Max Fried to an eight-year contract. They also bolstered their bullpen by acquiring All-Star closer Devin Williams and right-hander Fernando Cruz, while re-signing left-hander Tim Hill. To address Soto’s absence in the lineup, the Yankees traded for outfielder Cody Bellinger and https://www.storenymets.com/co....llections/david-wrig signed first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, both former MVPs. Judge expressed optimism about the new additions, believing they will bring a fresh dynamic to the team.
“They are going to add such a different dynamic to this team,” Judge said. “It really lengthens out our whole lineup. When you have those guys batting in the middle of the order, a lot of good things are going to happen. You can’t replace a guy like Juan Soto, but you bring in guys like this that are All-Stars, MVP-caliber players — we did a pretty good job.”
As the Yankees and Mets prepare to face off in what promises to be an exciting Subway Series, the rivalry between Judge and Soto will undoubtedly add another layer of intrigue to the storied matchup.
