It’s no secret that the Yankees lost the Juan Soto sweepstakes, but what’s raising eyebrows now is how they lost. The Yankees reportedly offered a nearly identical contract to Soto as the Mets, but there was one key area where they fell short: the suite clause. While the Mets, backed by Steve Cohen’s wealth, were able to go big both in terms of money and added perks, the Yankees had a stricter stance when it came to the added services.

This clause is where the pinstripes just couldn’t make the final push, and guess why? The Yankees, historically, don’t offer suites to players as part of their contracts. Even iconic players who’ve been with the team for years and helped bring home multiple championships have had to pay for their own suites—it’s just how the Yankees have done things. When it comes to perks like these, the team maintains a certain level of consistency, and offering a suite was simply something they weren’t prepared to do.

American broadcaster questions Juan Soto’s demands

Now, the real topic of discussion wasn’t why the Yankees didn’t just give Juan Soto the suite if they truly wanted him, but rather the bigger question was: how can Soto make such a demand in the first place? On a recent episode of The Michael Kay Show, Kay went on to explain, “Derek Jeter won five championships. When they built the new Yankee Stadium, he did not get a suite. You know what he did? He spent a million dollars a year so his family could be in a suite.” Kay went on to give another example by using Alex Rodriguez.

Michael added, “Alex Rodriguez signed the biggest contract in baseball twice, and he paid $400,000 each year to get his family the best four seats that were available.” Michael Kay also used Aaron Judge as a recent and current example; the broadcaster explained how Judge’s mother, father, and wife attended every single one of his games, but the Yankees still did not give him a suite. In contrast, the Mets were more than happy to throw in that extra perk, which ultimately made the difference. So, while the Yankees were ready to commit to almost everything else, that little added touch from the Mets was enough to seal the deal.

All the perks Juan Soto will get in the Mets

You would think that the biggest contract ever offered in MLB would be enough to lure a player into the team, but apparently, it was not. For Juan Soto, the added advantages attracted him further. So, let’s break down what exactly Steve Cohen offered that lured the biggest player of the offseason. First is the opt-out clause; Soto can opt out after 2029. But the Mets have thought it through; the club can trump the opt-out by adding $4 million per season for the final ten years.

That would also increase the total value of the Dominican Republic native’s contract to $805 million. But that’s not all. Juan’s contract includes a range of perks. For example, he’ll have a hotel suite on road trips, a suite at the stadium, and four premium seats behind home plate at Citi Field for every home game. The 26-year-old will also have personal security for him and his family at all games, including spring training. If this seems enough, well, there is more—the Dominican outfielder’s contract is loaded with performance-based bonuses.

For winning an MVP, he stands to earn $500,000 for his first win and $1 million for each additional MVP award. Even finishing second in the MVP voting nets him $350,000, while third place gets him $150,000 (the same spot he finished in last season). Each All-Star selection will earn him a $100,000 bonus, and if he takes home a Gold Glove, that’s another $100,000 (he was a finalist this past year). If he’s named World Series MVP, he’ll pocket $350,000 and $150,000 for winning LCS MVP.

He also gets $100,000 for being named to the All-MLB First or Second Team, $150,000 for a Silver Slugger (which he’s won five times, including the last two seasons), and $100,000 for the Hank Aaron Award. With all these incentives, who wouldn’t choose the Mets?