Mets Rumors: Juan Soto to Meet with Steve Cohen Next Week amid Yankees Buzz in MLB FA

After spending the 2024 season with the New York Yankees, superstar outfielder Juan Soto reportedly has a meeting with the New York Mets planned as he enters free agency.

According to Mike Puma of the New York Post, Mets owner Steve Cohen plans to travel to Southern California "next week" to meet with Soto as well as Scott Boras, his agent.

Puma noted that it's uncertain if the Yankees have a meeting scheduled with the four-time All-Star, but general manager Brian Cashman explained that the team is open to congregating with Soto and his representatives "as many times" as he wants.

Despite the questions surrounding a potential conversation between both sides, Cashman revealed that he already spoke with Boras regarding Soto's free agency on Monday (via Ronald Blum of the Associated Press).

While the Mets maintained a hefty $338 million payroll for the 2024 season, they'll have some financial flexibility to be active on the free agent market with large contracts belonging to former players such as Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander set to expire.

Tim Britton of The Athletic reported that Cohen's team has more than $180 million coming off the books.

It's easy to see why the Mets are interested in Soto, potentially inserting him into a lineup that already features players such as star shortstop Francisco Lindor and breakout third baseman Mark Vientos.

The 26-year-old thrived with the Bronx Bombers in 2024, hitting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs to go along with a .989 OPS. He continued to succeed in the postseason as New York won its first American League pennant since 2009, racking up four homers in 14 games while recording a .327/.469/.633 slash line.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns confirmed that he'll be taking an aggressive approach in free agency, explaining that "pretty much the entirety of the player universe is potentially accessible to us" after the Mets' 2024 postseason run came to an end in the National League Championship Series (via Puma).

As the Mets attempt to sway Soto's decision, Cohen is already expected to meet with him as well as Boras.