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With the first Subway Series of the 2025 MLB season scheduled to get underway in the Bronx on Friday, numerous stories this week revisited how All-Star outfielder Juan Soto left the New York Yankees to join the New York Mets in free agency this past offseason.
During a recent conversation with Greg Joyce of the New York Post, Yankees captain Aaron Judge opened up about how he handled Soto’s free-agency journey after the Yankees fell to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series.
“I tried to do my part, but for the most part let him make his decision,” Judge said about Soto, as shared by Chris Landers of Fansided. “Because a couple words that I say aren’t going to make a big decision for what you think is best for you and your family. He played with us for the whole spring, postseason, regular season, so he knew what we were all about here. I’m happy for him and the deal that he signed.”
Judge mentioned during the 2024 season how he gave Soto some advice about playing in a walk year. However, questions about their relationship surfaced after it was reported that Soto changed his cell phone number before the offseason.
In the end, Mets owner Steve Cohen signed Soto to a 15-year, $765M contract that could reportedly exceed $800M after Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner offered the 26-year-old $760M over 16 years.
“When it comes down to it, the friendship Juan and I have is No. 1 for me,” Judge continued. “Obviously, I want the Yankees to win, that’s my first priority, and helping the team field the best team. But once a guy makes his decision that he’s going to go somewhere else, it’s like, ‘How can I support him and help him out?’ That’s where I’m at.”
Soto seems to understand he’ll hear plenty of boos from fans who feel jilted regarding his free-agency decision during the three-game series held at Yankee Stadium. Judge previously acknowledged that Soto’s defection to the Mets is “definitely personal for the fans,” but it seems those inside the Yankees clubhouse still respect all that Soto gave the Bronx Bombers in 2024.
“A guy that people loved in here as a teammate,” Judge added about how he remembers what Soto was as a Yankee. “He helped out a lot of guys, whether it was talking hitting, talking baseball stuff, anything like that. He’s just a baseball savant with a lot of things, especially approach-wise.”
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