In December 2024, the New York baseball world turned on its axis. Just days after a World Series run with the Yankees, Juan Soto made a stunning decision. He signed a $765 million, 15-year deal — not with the Bronx Bombers, but with their crosstown rivals, the Mets. The move itself was seismic. The player. The price tag. Of course, it had to be. But the seismic aftershocks, delivered via Soto’s own words, were equally explosive.

In a recent interview, Soto attempted to explain the reason for his decision and also based it on what he believes the future holds for his former team. “I know the Yankees are going to be good for the next five, six years,” said Soto. “We don’t know after that.” This seemingly innocuous observation, just a straightforward projection about a team’s trajectory, was the match that lit a fuse. That meant a narrow window of contention for one of the sport’s most historically great franchises — a notion that wouldn’t sit well for many.

The reaction to Soto’s measured assessment was, in some corners, anything but measured. Chris McMonigle didn’t hold back, delivering a blistering critique on a podcast. McMonigle, in simple terms, stated, “Shut up. Are we serious? There’s not another franchise in sports that you can feel more confident or has a better track record.”

After all, the Yankees are the first team to win three straight World Series Championships and mind you, it is not a small feat. Now you pair it with 27 World Series Championships, 40 American League (AL) Pennants, and 57 Postseason appearances, and you would understand why McMonigle said what he said. He further blasted Soto’s explanation as “BS,” implying the massive Mets contract was the only real factor: “It’s more BS to try and push it anywhere except ‘I signed for the money.'”

McMonigle’s claim that Soto’s decision was mostly financial, though it sounds harsh, reflects a reality common in professional baseball. Players have relatively short careers, and maximizing earnings is often a priority. We’ve seen it countless times. The Red Sox hero Johnny Damon traded his Red Sox uniforms for pinstripes of the rival Yankees when he found a better payday. Jason Heyward signed with the division-rival Cubs, enticed by a huge contract, leaving the Cardinals. Even Zack Greinke publicly acknowledged salary considerations as a key factor in choosing the Dodgers. That’s the business of the game.

Money, loyalty, and rivalries: The Soto saga continues

However, the narrative of “money over everything” isn’t absolute. There are exceptions, such as players who put loyalty and a sense of belonging ahead of a bigger paycheck. Aaron Nola also turned down major money to stay with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2023. Even more impressively, Tony Gwynn known as ‘Mr. Padre’ played his entire Hall of Fame career with the San Diego Padres and repeatedly took less money to remain with the organization that drafted him. These cases, while admirable, are becoming increasingly rare in modern baseball.

Soto’s move to the Mets, while financially driven, also places him in a unique historical list of players who played for both New York franchises. He’s not alone. Dwight “Doc” Gooden, a Mets great, even threw a no-hitter in Yankee pinstripes. Another prominent figure in Mets history, Darryl Strawberry, also jumped to the Bronx. Even Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson wore both uniforms. These moves, while often controversial, add spice to the already heated rivalry.

Remember when Soto said that the reason to move to the Mets was because they stand more chances to win a title? Yeah, that didn’t sit too well with his former teammate Aaron Judge, as he said, “That’s his opinion. He can say what he wants. I definitely disagree with him…We’re going to be battling back and forth for quite a few years.” Quite some matchup it is going to be once they go head-to-head.

Juan Soto’s comments, whether a calculated justification or an honest assessment, ignited a firestorm. But one thing is certain: the battle for New York baseball supremacy just got a whole lot more interesting. Do you agree? Let us know in the comments section below.