Part 5/8:
The motivations for each team extend beyond mere baseball performance. The Yankees and Dodgers pursue Soto primarily to bolster their rosters and enhance their championship aspirations. In contrast, the Mets, Red Sox, and Blue Jays seek Soto not only for winning but also for establishing credibility and relevance within their markets and to their fans.
For the Mets, especially under Cohen’s ownership, acquiring Soto could symbolize a shift in power dynamics between New York clubs, while the Red Sox and Blue Jays may want to demonstrate a new strategic direction after recent underperformance.