Inside the Mets’ special meeting with Juan Soto
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Even while in California, Steve Cohen had a home-field advantage.
The Mets’ owner personally hosted Soto at his Beverly Hills mansion during the courting process in a stark contrast to the other teams’ presentations, The Post’s Jon Heyman exclusively reported.
Money ultimately talks, especially when it’s $765 million, but it certainly couldn’t have hurt to outdo the competition while teams made their pitches in not as spectacular settings.
Cohen agreed to buy the mansion in 2015 for $32 million, according to Forbes.
The lavish residence spans more than 12,000 feet and features nine bedrooms, a swimming pool with a waterfall, plenty of fireplaces, multiple parking garages that can house 30-plus cars, a sports court, two guesthouses, a movie theater, pool room and full bar, among other perks.
Cohen hosted a group of roughly 15 individuals for the meeting, including Soto and his agent, Scott Boras, and had Latin food served, per Heyman.
For the actual pitch, Cohen used his theater room.
The other teams are believed to have held their meetings with 26-year-old Soto at Boras’ home.
Follow The Post’s coverage of Juan Soto’s historic megadeal with the Mets:
Cohen also seemingly used some intel to his advantage.
Soto “allegedly was upset” early in his Yankees tenure when an “overzealous” security guard restricted one of Soto’s family members and his chef/drive from certain areas.
The Yankees apologized to Soto and the outfielder forgave them, according to Heyman’s sources.
For the Mets’ meeting, Cohen brought his wife, Alex, his father-in law and the Mets’ traveling secretary, Edgar Suero, who explained the team’s logistics and how they take care of their families.
Now that Soto has chosen Flushing to be his home for either the next five or 15 years — there’s an opt-out after five years that the Mets can prevent by upping his contract to $55 million per season — those logistics will be important for Soto while he begins his time in Queens.
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