Key Takeaways
- • Steve Cohen confirms interpersonal friction between Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor existed during the 2025 season but states the relationship has since improved, dismissing ongoing trade rumors about either player.
- • Soto and Lindor remain locked into long-term contracts with significant financial commitments: Soto holds 13 years remaining on a 15-year, $765 million deal signed in 2024; Lindor has six years left on a 10-year, $341 million contract, making trades unlikely.
- • The Mets' 2025 performance deteriorated in final weeks despite roster talent, finishing 83-79 and missing the playoffs in their first season with both players; the team currently sits at 36-50 this season with Soto and Lindor having played only 13 full games together.
- • Cohen stated he does not anticipate either player being traded, emphasizing he is "thrilled" to have both high-quality players on the roster following the resolution of previous tensions.
- • Former manager Carlos Mendoza initially denied clubhouse friction claims, attributing the team's late-season collapse to performance issues rather than interpersonal conflict, before Cohen's subsequent acknowledgment contradicted this narrative.
Summary
Mets owner Steve Cohen has publicly confirmed that tensions between star players Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor existed during the 2025 season, marking a significant acknowledgment after the franchise's disappointing campaign. In an exclusive interview with The Post's Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman on "The Show" podcast, Cohen stated that while reports of the two players "not getting along last year were true," he believes the relationship has substantially improved and is no longer a concern for the organization.
"Frankly, I think that's a story that was last year's story," Cohen said. "I am told and believe strongly that these guys are getting along much better. And so, I just don't see that as an issue anymore." This statement directly contradicted earlier denials from former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who had claimed the team maintained a professional clubhouse environment where players "enjoyed being around each other," attributing the collapse to performance rather than internal friction.
The timing of Cohen's confirmation comes as the Mets face a second consecutive season without playoff baseball. The organization finished 2025 with an 83-79 record despite roster additions, and the current season has seen the team compile a 36-50 record with Soto and Lindor having appeared in only 13 full games together, raising questions about team continuity and chemistry. However, Cohen dismissed speculation about either player's future with the franchise.
Despite the documented friction, Cohen stated emphatically: "I don't see them going anywhere. I'm lucky enough to have two high-quality players like that and with the elimination of whatever issues there were last year, I'm thrilled that they're on the team." The financial commitment to both players reinforces this position. Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract in 2024 with 13 seasons remaining, while Lindor holds a 10-year, $341 million deal with six years left. The combined $1.106 billion commitment makes mid-contract trades economically impractical for the franchise, essentially locking both players in place regardless of clubhouse dynamics.
Cohen's remarks represent an attempt to move past the 2025 narrative while projecting organizational confidence in both players' ability to perform together going forward, though the recent on-field performance suggests broader issues extend beyond interpersonal relationships within the clubhouse.
"Frankly, I think that's a story that was last year's story," Cohen said. "I am told and believe strongly that these guys are getting along much better. And so, I just don't see that as an issue anymore." This statement directly contradicted earlier denials from former Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who had claimed the team maintained a professional clubhouse environment where players "enjoyed being around each other," attributing the collapse to performance rather than internal friction.
The timing of Cohen's confirmation comes as the Mets face a second consecutive season without playoff baseball. The organization finished 2025 with an 83-79 record despite roster additions, and the current season has seen the team compile a 36-50 record with Soto and Lindor having appeared in only 13 full games together, raising questions about team continuity and chemistry. However, Cohen dismissed speculation about either player's future with the franchise.
Despite the documented friction, Cohen stated emphatically: "I don't see them going anywhere. I'm lucky enough to have two high-quality players like that and with the elimination of whatever issues there were last year, I'm thrilled that they're on the team." The financial commitment to both players reinforces this position. Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million contract in 2024 with 13 seasons remaining, while Lindor holds a 10-year, $341 million deal with six years left. The combined $1.106 billion commitment makes mid-contract trades economically impractical for the franchise, essentially locking both players in place regardless of clubhouse dynamics.
Cohen's remarks represent an attempt to move past the 2025 narrative while projecting organizational confidence in both players' ability to perform together going forward, though the recent on-field performance suggests broader issues extend beyond interpersonal relationships within the clubhouse.
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