David Ortiz hoped to get Juan Soto to the Red Sox before the star outfielder landed with the Mets on a huge 15-year, $765 million deal.
“We wanted him in Boston,” Ortiz said Saturday. “Unfortunately, it didn’t work out.”
Ortiz made at least one pitch to Soto on behalf of the Red Sox last month, telling the “Baseball Isn’t Boring” podcast, “If he signs with this organization, which is an amazing organization, he can balance the clubhouse in a way that I did. He’s gonna have Coach Papi in his corner.”?
Instead, it came down to a crosstown battle between the Yankees and Mets before Soto got the richest contract in baseball history to go to the Mets after one season as a Yankee.
Asked if he was surprised Soto chose Queens over The Bronx, Ortiz said, “It’s a business. It’s always a business and he’s got to go wherever is best for him and his family.”
The Yankees came up just short in their pursuit to retain Soto, offering him $760 million over 16 years.
The Mets came up with a deal that included a $75 million signing bonus, as well as escalators that could bring the total to $805 million.
“It’s great,’’ Ortiz said of Soto’s record-setting deal that came after interest from the Blue Jays and Dodgers, as well as the Mets, Yankees and Red Sox. “It’s well deserved, what he got, and we’re gonna continue cheering for him. He’s a great kid. You guys are gonna enjoy Soto for a while here.’’
Ortiz and Soto are from the Dominican Republic and Ortiz said he knows Soto’s family “very well.”
Ortiz spent Saturday afternoon handing out gifts in Inwood on behalf of SOMOS Community Care, a non-profit organization that represents neighborhood doctors.
Now, Soto is part of a team that’s coming off an unexpected run to the NLCS, where the Mets lost to the eventual champion Dodgers in six games after Soto helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series appearance in 15 years.
“I feel that is what it’s all about, why you play baseball — to be a championship player and win as many as you can,” Soto said during his introductory press conference Thursday at Citi Field. “At the end of the day, you can have all this stuff, but if you don’t win, it’s kind of hard.”
“He’s 26, but he’s mature,’’ Ortiz said. “He has a good head. I wish him the best.”
Since losing out on Soto, the Yankees have pivoted to signing left-hander Max Fried to an eight-year, $218 million deal to fortify their rotation and traded for Milwaukee’s Devin Williams to be their new closer.
Boston, meanwhile, acquired left-hander Garrett Crochet from the White Sox.
Third baseman Alex Bregman, first basemen Pete Alonso and Christian Walker and outfielder Anthony Santander remain potential options on the free agent market for the Yankees.
The Red Sox have made the playoffs just once since winning the World Series in 2018 and are expected to be active the rest of the offseason.