New York Mets’ new player Juan Soto had trouble traveling from his native Dominican Republic to the Big Apple to be present at the festival that New Yorkers hold annually with their fans at Citi Field.
Six weeks after signing a historic $765 million, 15-year contract, Soto suffered from the cancellation of flights from the Caribbean country, which prevented him from meeting with the team and his new teammates, The Post reported.
The reactions of Juan Soto’s new teammates on the Mets
But there were no such impediments in the opinions of the rest of the Mets players talking about Soto’s arrival to the team and their opinion on sharing the clubhouse with the Dominican player.
“I was happy and I also said, ‘Damn!'” Puerto Rican Francisco Lindor said of his reaction to Soto’s signing with the Mets.
Lindor has a contract with the team for 10 years and $341 million dollars.
“It was great. I was happy for him and his family, as well as the organization. I can’t wait to be his teammate for the next seven years, and then I can’t wait to see him from my house,” Lindor added with a laugh.
While Mark Vientos, who could bat behind Soto depending on how manager Carlos Mendoza writes his lineup, was equally excited.
“It’s like a kind of feeling: ‘Hey, pinch me, I’m dreaming,'” Vientos said. “It’s sick that hopefully I can get the chance.”
The importance of Cohen’s wealth in signing Soto
Mets owner Steve Cohen reiterated Saturday that until about 30 minutes before the Mets learned they were going to get Soto, he didn’t think they were going to catch him.
In the end, thanks in large part to Cohen’s deep pockets, the Mets were the last team standing after snatching the generational hitter from their neighbors, the Yankees
“I’m really glad we won that bidding war and brought him to the orange and blue,” Brandon Nimmo said. “He’s going to be in the middle of our lineup, and it’s going to be really exciting to see what he can do.”
Some of the Mets players who attended Saturday’s game knew Soto, but only as a rival, so they were doubly grateful to be able to call him a teammate.
Starting next month in Port St. Lucie, the Mets will begin to feel the full Soto experience, which they hope will be a franchise-changing addition.
“He’s a guy that we all need to get familiar with,” Mendoza said. “Seeing him work day in and day out and having those conversations, whether it’s in the cages, during hitters’ meetings and things like that.
“All I hear in the league and from people who have had him in the past is how special this guy is when it comes to hitting. … I’m excited to meet him and learn from him as well,” concluded the Mets manager.