Juan Soto, Francisco Lindor Discuss Relationship After Steve Cohen Confirms 2025 Mets Drama

New York Mets star Juan Soto says he has had "no issues" with Francisco Lindor despite club owner Steve Cohen seemingly confirming a clash between the teammates last season.

"There were no issues last year — at all," Soto told The Athletic's Will Sammon on Friday. "We didn't have any beef or anything. Definitely, our relationship is getting better because it takes time. When you meet a girl, you don't start kissing her right away."

Lindor meanwhile told Sammon: "The more time we spend together, it's only natural that our relationship continues to grow. We've been teammates for two years now. Time has been on our side. I have nothing but respect for him. He's my brother. He's somebody I respected from a distance and respect here, inside."

When asked about Lindor and Soto's relationship on a recent episode of The Show podcast with the New York Post's Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Cohen answered: "Frankly, I think that's a story that was last year's issue."

"Actually, I'm told and believe strongly that these guys are getting along much better," Cohen told Sherman and Heyman.

Cohen concluded: "I just don't see that as an issue anymore. I'm lucky enough to have two high-quality players like that, and with the elimination of whatever issues there were last year, I'm thrilled that they're on the team."

Lindor and Soto are in their second year as teammates since the Mets signed Soto to a historic 15-year deal ahead of the 2025 season.

Sammon and Tim Britton reported for The Athletic last September there was a changing leadership dynamic in the Mets locker room in part because of a personality difference between Soto and Lindor.

"Soto is more business-like, with everything in service of performing in that night's game, whereas Lindor carries a more laid-back, even friendlier, approach," Sammon and Britton reported at the time.

Mike Puma of the New York Post then reported in November that Soto and Lindor had a "chilly" relationship.

The Post's Heyman recently described last season's split between Lindor and Soto as an "open secret" that was "known to everyone around the team."

"According to other MLB sources, Cohen even called the star pair together to try to hash it out at some point," Heyman reported Thursday.

Lindor and Soto have only played limited time together this season in large part thanks to the left calf strain that sidelined Lindor for two months between April and June.

Now that Lindor has returned to the lineup, the Mets will hope the reportedly improved chemistry between him and Soto will help the club rebound from an ongoing 2-10 stretch that led to the recent dismissal of former manager Carlos Mendoza.