The New York Mets won the Juan Soto sweepstakes by signing the young slugger to a MASSIVE $765 million contract, but are they done adding more free-agent superstars to their roster? ESPN MLB analyst Eduardo Pérez joined Tuesday’s edition of GoJo and Golic to break down how Juan Soto’s signing will impact the MLB offseason going forward.
Mike Golic Sr. jokingly asked Peréz if the Soto news was reminiscent of the massive $500 or $600 million deal he signed during his playing days. Pérez chuckled and replied it was…until he woke up and realized it was the most beautiful dream he ever had! On a serious note, Perez said that while everyone is still shocked by the sheer amount of money Soto signed for, it really shouldn’t be a surprise, given Mets owner Steve Cohen’s deep pockets. Cohen is known for his billion-dollar art collection. Cohen’s latest acquisition, Pérez quipped, is a live piece of art.
Some will say Cohen overpaid for Soto. However, Pérez contends Cohen can afford it. He described this move as more than just a ripple but instead a tsunami waiting to happen. With Soto off the board, Perez predicts the next few days will see a flurry of major signings in the next few days at baseball’s Winter Meetings as teams rush to make moves and players aim to finalize deals before Christmas.
To gauge how the Soto signing was felt around the Big Apple for Mets fans, Mike Golic Jr. asked Pérez, how big this signing is for the Mets, not just in chasing a World Series but also in shaking their “little brother” status to the Yankees? Pérez explained that this signing feels like a long-awaited win for Mets fans over the Yankees. Under previous ownership, the Mets couldn’t compete with the Yankees financially, but now they’ve outbid them. However, Pérez noted this isn’t a victory over the late George Steinbrenner. And further, the reality is the Mets will still need to do more. Pérez emphasized that the Mets still have much to address to remain competitive in their division. The Phillies and Braves are strong contenders, with Atlanta set to regain key players like Max Fried and Spencer Strider next season.
Sure, they won the bidding war for Juan Soto, but the Mets must cash a reality check to fix the rest of their roster.
"The reality is that they still need to do more, and that's the Mets, in order to be competitive in their OWN division…But the one thing we do know — Steve… pic.twitter.com/dP5x4lodr8
— DraftKings Network (@DKNetwork) December 10, 2024
Pérez highlighted gaps in the Mets’ roster, including a need for pitching and a solution at first base. Questions remain about whether Mark Vientos will shift to first and who might fill third base. Moreover, Pérez shared insights from a conversation with Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who acknowledged that Soto’s addition strengthened the lineup but stressed the need for more pitching. They’ve already lost Luis Severino to the Athletics and will need to bring back Sean Manaeal, who would not cost them draft pick compensation. Pérez concluded by pointing out one certainty: Steve Cohen has the resources to make bold moves and will continue to spend money to build the team he wants.
To help casual fans understand the magnitude of the Soto situation and a player of his age and talent hitting the open market, GoJo asked Pérez how big of a unicorn this entire situation was relative to what we normally see in Major League Baseball. Pérez highlighted how unique Juan Soto’s situation is, comparing it to Shohei Ohtani, another unicorn who secured a $700 million deal, albeit with deferred money — something Soto avoided in his deal. Pérez shared a story from when Soto was 19 and just breaking into the majors. A coach in the Dominican Republic had told him that to reach the big leagues, he needed to swing only at strikes and avoid chasing bad pitches. This advice, which emphasized plate discipline and on-base percentage, shaped Soto into the player he is today — a rarity in baseball, often likened to a young Barry Bonds regarding plate discipline.
"He reminds a lot of people of Barry Bonds when Barry Bonds was in his mid-30s. Juan Soto accomplished all this at the age of 19. He just turned 26. He's in the prime years of 'baseball life' for position players.
— GoJo and Golic (@GoJoandGolic) December 10, 2024
He's three years ahead of schedule. The Mets are paying him for… pic.twitter.com/VfDuEWxXTt
What makes Soto extraordinary, Pérez explained, is his age. Unlike most free agents who enter the market at 29 or older, Soto is just 26, giving teams his prime years: ages 27 to 32. This makes him an investment in future performance, though his achievements to date — batting dominance, incredible numbers and maturity — are already historic. According to Pérez, despite not being known for defense or speed, Soto’s ability to excel in the strike zone and produce elite offensive numbers cements his status as a unicorn in MLB free agency.
So the Mets got Juan Soto, great. But they need arms, so Senior wants to know how much the Mets will shell out for Corbin Burnes? Pérez actually thinks Burnes might end up being a Yankee. Now that the teams have been able to reassess their budgets and what they can afford after the close of the Soto sweepstakes, some teams may look at what they were willing to spend on Soto and turn it into two or three elite players. The Yankees need pitching, he says. They need guys who can post every fifth day. Burnes and Max Fried are DUDES and Pérez expects the Yankees to be active when it comes to pitching and at first base and maybe even on Alex Bregman at third. The Yankees aren’t done and will pivot, as will several other teams that missed out on Soto. So while call something like the Soto signing a ripple, Pérez calls it a tsunami.
Watch or listen to the full show below and tune into GoJo and Golic weekday mornings from 8-10 a.m. ET on DraftKings Network! See more about how to watch DraftKings Network here.
SHOW BREAKDOWN
Hour 1: The Eagles’ Philly Family Drama & Burrow’s Bengals Beat The Cowboys + Eduardo Pérez on Juan Soto Signing’s Impact on MLB
VIDEO
Watch GoJo and Golic every weekday on Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV and DraftKingsNetwork.com from 8 to 10 a.m. ET. The show is also available via audio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can also follow Mike Golic Sr. on X at @golic and Mike Golic Jr. on X at @mikegolicjr.
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