Juan Soto competition could become New York battle royal with Mets being ‘serious’ players

SAN ANTONIO — The Mets are said to beryllium “serious” players for Yankees prima free supplier Juan Soto, which shouldn’t astonishment a soul.

The Yankees, meantime, checked successful connected Mets prima free supplier Pete Alonso, ana d while they person morganatic liking successful Alonso, that’s a backup scheme to Soto, some teams’ Plan A.

Alonso is simply a large star, but successful this case, he’s only a very intriguing secondary story. The New York-New York title for Soto looks for illustration it whitethorn go nan conflict royal of nan winter. And while nan Yankees person immoderate evident advantages, nan Mets do, too.

Yankees proprietor Hal Steinbrenner was an early protagonist of Steve Cohen arsenic a purchaser for nan Mets, and Steinbrenner had to cognize nan time could beryllium coming erstwhile he’d beryllium battling pinch nan recently deep-pocketed Mets for big-time stars. And that time is now here. No 1 knows yet, but nary 1 should beryllium amazed if nan Mets upwind up arsenic nan precocious Soto bidder.

While nan Yankees clasp nan use of having a very bully 2024 play (including nan World Series) pinch Soto, and are understandably painted arsenic nan favourite successful this winter’s megaderby, nan Mets are seen by nan Yankees (and astir apt everyone else) arsenic a existent threat. Cohen nicely eschewed a tally astatine Yankees homegrown superstar Aaron Judge a mates years ago. But politeness isn’t required here.

While nan Yankees surely besides person nan advantage (over anyone else) pinch their large history and bigger instrumentality base, nan Mets person much than heavy pockets. They reached nan NLCS and really won 1 much crippled than nan Yankees against nan Dodgers.

Soto said each 30 teams person a chance pursuing nan Game 5 World Series nonaccomplishment to LA. So why not nan Mets? (For nan record, nan Yankees person ever seen nan Mets arsenic nan biggest obstacle, though astatine slightest 11 teams are said to person checked in.)

Soto besides made clear that winning is nan privilege (presumably on pinch nan contract). And 1 much advantage nan Yankees person is nan awesome Judge to bat down Soto, which he loves. No 1 could lucifer that unless nan Dodgers redid their lineup. While nan Mets person emerging prima Mark Vientos, is that enough? Could Soto and Alonso yet beryllium a package woody for nan squad successful Queens?

Yankees GM Brian Cashman told reporters present Tuesday that they’ve checked successful connected Alonso. And they person legit interest, but group acquainted pinch nan business told The Post that Alonso, Anthony Santander and Alex Bregman, positive prima pitchers (one of Corbin Burnes, Blake Snell, Max Fried, etc.) are each portion of Plans B, C and/or D successful lawsuit Soto doesn’t return to The Bronx. Soto figures to get $600M aliases more, truthful theoretically, nan Yankees could motion 3 (or more) stars if they don’t get him.

The Yankees surely person a decent changeable astatine landing 1 aliases nan different among nan 2 New York stars (although immoderate whitethorn propose nan Yankees would beryllium wiser to look for a left-handed hitter if they suffer Soto). But if a New York squad is fortunate capable to onshore some New York stars, it’s not going to beryllium The Bronx Bombers.