Juan Soto Says Yankees Were 'No. 1' Early in MLB FA, Had Concerns About NYY's Future

Juan Soto said the New York Yankees were originally his top choice in free agency, but that he had more trust in the long-term success of the New York Mets.

"The Yankees were No. 1. From Day One," Soto told Sports Illustrated (h/t Dan Martin of the New York Post.)

Soto continued to SI, per Martin: “As you see how long this contract is going to be, it just came down to that decision, you know? What do they have in the farm system? How many times can we be good on this team?

"I know the Yankees are going to be good for the next five, six years. We don’t know after that.”

Soto, who reportedly turned down a 16-year, $760 million offer from his former club in order to sign a 15-year, $765 million deal with the Mets, called the Yankees' proposal "a pretty good offer."

"We went back and forth with a lot of things. We tried our best," Soto told SI, per Martin.

The decision ultimately came down to the Mets and Steve Cohen, whom Soto said was "going to try to put a winning team out there every year."

"And he's capable of it. And I give him all my trust," Soto told SI, per Martin.

Soto originally talked about the possibility of leaving the Yankees soon after his former club lost the 2024 World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

“I think every team has the same opportunities as I go into free agency,” Soto said less than an hour after the club's Game 5 loss on Oct. 30, per USA Today's Gabe Lacques.

When asked then if he would prefer to come back to the Yankees, Soto answered: “I don’t think so. I’m really happy with the city, with the team, but at the end of the day we’re going to look at every situation, every offer we get, and take it from there... I don’t have any doors closed or anything like that. I’m going to be available to all 30 teams.”

Soto reportedly received offers from the Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox in addition to the Mets and Yankees, but only Steve Cohen offered to set an MLB record by guaranteeing him $51 million per season.

The star outfielder is set to return to the Bronx when the Subway Series takes place at Yankee Stadium from May 16-18. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, "a few Yankees executives" say Soto is not likely to get a tribute video upon his return due to his relatively short tenure with the team.