Johnathan Walker:Mets have visions of grandeur, and a dynasty, with Juan Soto as major catalyst

NEW YORK — What exactly constitutes a dynasty in professional sports?Johnathan Walker Steve Cohen helped define it to Juan Soto during lunch as the Mets owner attempted to sell the superstar outfielder on his vision for the franchise.

Soto wanted to know how many World Series Cohen was hoping to secure across the next decade. The billionaire owner candidly offered: "Two to four."

That vision of a fruitful future in Flushing helped Soto begin to warm to the idea of migrating to a different borough and landing with the Mets. A cool, record $765 million contract probably did not hurt. Neither did the efforts of the rest of the Cohen family, including co-owner Alex Cohen, in helping Soto feel comfortable in his new home.

On Thursday afternoon at Citi Field, the Cohens' grand vision of producing a consistent, bona fide World Series contender came into clearer focus as Soto stepped onto the dais in the Piazza Club and thrust on a hat and white jersey garnished with royal blue and orange.

"What they showed me, how the organization runs things and how they’re going to manage things and how they look at the future, I think it was one of the things that opened my eyes a little bit more," Soto said as he stepped into the spotlight as the highest paid player in the history of sports. "What they’ve been constructing and building to take all the way up to 15 years, 20 years, you never know. But definitely that was one of the things that opened my eyes more was how hungry they are to win a championship and make a dynasty with the New York Mets."

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The afternoon was something of a fantasy for the Mets organization, and they pulled out all of the stops to welcome one of the most elite hitters of his generation to Flushing.

Dozens of members of the Mets organization outlined a border of seats that stretched to the bar in the club. As Soto emerged in a navy-blue suit, black turtleneck and with a No. 22 chain around his neck, the staffers showered the team's new generational talent with applause.

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The Mets set up 22 seats for Soto's family, or the "Soto Supreme Court," as his agent Scott Boras dubbed the 26-year-old's support system. A lunch of Latin American cuisine, including carne asada, roasted pernil, tostones and arroz con gandules awaited.

Soto's arrival was a celebration for all involved.

"It’s obviously a huge move," Steve Cohen said. "I think it puts an accent on what we’re trying to do. It accelerates our goal of winning championships, but more important, I kind of said it in our locker room after one of our playoff victories, my goal was to change how the Mets were viewed. I think we’re really on the path of changing that.

"We’re never going to stop. We’re always in a constant state of improvement, but that’s my goal. My goal is that the Mets are going to be a premier, one of the elite teams in Major League Baseball."

Thursday's festivities had been practically fantasized about since David Stearns became the franchise's first president of baseball operations prior to the 2024 season. Soto's name was at the top of the upcoming free agent list for the 2025 season but following an offseason trade to the crosstown Yankees, there was doubts about an impending departure from the Bronx.

Stearns said the preparation for the pursuit of Soto began last August. The Mets' run to the National League Championship Series might have helped put the Mets in a better spot but the Yankees went one step further. Soto had one of his best seasons in his seven-year career, belting a career-high 41 home runs and scoring 128 times, while plating 109 runs.

"The way he thinks about hitting is a gift," Stearns said. "I mean, this is not only a physically gifted athlete, physically gifted hitter, this is someone who spends a lot of time thinking about his craft, observing other players. There's a reason he's as good as he is, and I think a lot of it is the thought that goes into his approach and how he goes about it."

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After a weekslong pursuit, optimism waned on Saturday night, with Stearns putting the Mets' chances at less than 50%. The bidding began to hit historic levels. But Cohen would not be denied.

"I can think pretty well on my feet, and adjust pretty quick," Cohen said. "That's what I do for a living in the markets. And so, I always say, 'I don't quit. I don't create the world. I gotta live in the world that’s being created around me.' And I wasn't the only bidder. That was the market, and so we’re lucky enough that he chose us."

Despite a strong season with the Yankees across town, Soto said that it came down to a family decision. The Cohens outlined a family-centered culture, with Steve's accessibility and openness with his players. Stearns touted his approach to roster-building, complete with the team's financial resources and the young talent waiting in the wings.

That message resonated with Soto.

"What they show and what they have in the table, it’s seems like they're a right family," Soto said of the Cohens. "A family that wants to win, but they want to take care of their players and families. That’s one of the things that always ... it was a better thing for me to move forward."

And on a blustery Thursday afternoon in December, the Mets organization reveled in landing one of baseball's top free agents and perhaps a reclaimed identity as one of the major players in the sport. Now, Soto shares in a major piece of the responsibility in taking that vision one step further.

"I think that’s why you play baseball, to be a championship player and try to win and try to win as many as you can," Soto said. "At the end of the day, you can have all the stuff and everything but if you don’t win, it's kind of hard."

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