Key Takeaways
- • Mets owner Steve Cohen signed Juan Soto to a record-setting 15-year, $765 million contract on December 11, 2025, making him one of baseball's highest-paid players at approximately $51 million annually.
- • Despite Soto's slow offensive start (3 home runs through mid-April 2026, hitting .248 with a .770 OPS), Cohen publicly stated he is "not worried about Juan" and emphasized the value of Soto's plate discipline in driving lineup productivity.
- • Cohen's confidence in the $765 million investment remains intact even as Soto works through his early-season progression; the Mets have performed strongly overall with a 20-9 record, among the best in MLB.
- • Initial recruitment negotiations nearly collapsed in early December 2025 when Cohen expressed frustration that Soto was prioritizing lineup protection over the Mets' organizational vision, with Cohen believing Soto would ultimately sign with the Yankees.
Summary
Mets owner Steve Cohen has publicly reaffirmed his confidence in Juan Soto despite the star outfielder's sluggish offensive output through the first month of the 2026 season. Speaking on "The Show" podcast with Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman, Cohen dismissed early concerns about Soto's performance, stating plainly: "I'm not worried about Juan."
Soto was hitting .248 with a .770 OPS and only three home runs as of mid-April 2026, a notable decline from his historical power production. However, Cohen framed Soto's value through a broader strategic lens, highlighting his plate discipline and ability to force opposing pitchers into extended at-bats. "The way that he works a count, makes pitchers throw extra pitches really matters," Cohen explained. "Then he gets on base, and then Pete [Alonso] can drive him in. And so Pete's seen better pitches." Cohen characterized this dynamic as "subtle" but crucial to team success, emphasizing that individual statistics do not capture Soto's full contribution to winning baseball.
The Mets' overall performance has insulated Cohen from investor or fan pressure regarding Soto's slow start. The team entered late April with a 20-9 record—the best in Major League Baseball—and was performing ahead of pace relative to the legendary 1986 Mets championship team. Despite Soto's power drought, the Mets had won nine of their last eleven games.
The Soto acquisition itself was contentious during recruitment. According to Sports Illustrated reporting, Cohen nearly lost the negotiation in early December 2025 when a meeting at Cohen's Boca Raton home deteriorated. Soto's representatives prioritized lineup protection—citing his experience batting behind Manny Machado in San Diego and Aaron Judge in New York—as a condition for signing. Cohen's frustration peaked during the December 6 discussion, with the owner reportedly asking: "Why are we even having this meeting? It sounds like you're coming up with a lot of reasons why you don't want to come to our team!" Cohen left the meeting convinced Soto would re-sign with the Yankees. However, agent Scott Boras called Cohen the next morning with a reversal, ultimately leading to the record 15-year, $765 million contract finalized on December 11, 2025.
Soto was hitting .248 with a .770 OPS and only three home runs as of mid-April 2026, a notable decline from his historical power production. However, Cohen framed Soto's value through a broader strategic lens, highlighting his plate discipline and ability to force opposing pitchers into extended at-bats. "The way that he works a count, makes pitchers throw extra pitches really matters," Cohen explained. "Then he gets on base, and then Pete [Alonso] can drive him in. And so Pete's seen better pitches." Cohen characterized this dynamic as "subtle" but crucial to team success, emphasizing that individual statistics do not capture Soto's full contribution to winning baseball.
The Mets' overall performance has insulated Cohen from investor or fan pressure regarding Soto's slow start. The team entered late April with a 20-9 record—the best in Major League Baseball—and was performing ahead of pace relative to the legendary 1986 Mets championship team. Despite Soto's power drought, the Mets had won nine of their last eleven games.
The Soto acquisition itself was contentious during recruitment. According to Sports Illustrated reporting, Cohen nearly lost the negotiation in early December 2025 when a meeting at Cohen's Boca Raton home deteriorated. Soto's representatives prioritized lineup protection—citing his experience batting behind Manny Machado in San Diego and Aaron Judge in New York—as a condition for signing. Cohen's frustration peaked during the December 6 discussion, with the owner reportedly asking: "Why are we even having this meeting? It sounds like you're coming up with a lot of reasons why you don't want to come to our team!" Cohen left the meeting convinced Soto would re-sign with the Yankees. However, agent Scott Boras called Cohen the next morning with a reversal, ultimately leading to the record 15-year, $765 million contract finalized on December 11, 2025.
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