New York Mets star Francisco Lindor has reportedly taken an active role in recruiting Juan Soto as the Yankees stud enters free agency.

The Yankees made a big swing when they traded for Soto in December 2023, despite knowing he was set to be a free agent. The San Diego Padres dealt Soto and Trent Grisham to the Yankees in exchange for Michael King, Drew Thorpe, Jhony Brito, Randy Vasquez, and Kyle Higashioka.

Even for a one-year rental, Soto was a phenomenon. In his first year in the Bronx, Soto finished the regular season batting .288 (9th in the AL)/.419(2nd)/.569(3rd) with a career-high 41 home runs (3rd) and 109 RBIs (4th). He was also second in MLB in walks with 129 as the Yankees reached the World Series for the first time since 2009.

Soto, who joined Aaron Judge and the Kansas City Royals’ Bobby Witt Jr. as AL MVP finalists, is undoubtedly one of the top talents on the market. The 26-year-old is attracting interest from the Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, San Francisco Giants, Tampa Bay Rays, and World Series champion LA Dodgers, as well as both the Yankees and Mets.

The Mets have a meeting with Soto in California this week, and owner Steve Cohen is set to attend. Lindor is also assisting the push for Soto as the shortstop “would love another star in Queens”.

The Mets have a favorable payroll situation, with only $150 million committed for 2025 – a figure that includes the approximately $18 million set aside for player benefits. This means the franchise has immense flexibility heading into free agency, a far cry from when the Mets ended the 2024 season with a payroll of $356.2 million, which included the luxury tax penalties that were owed.

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Francisco Lindor wants another premier player to join him on the Mets after the franchise's exceptional run to the NLCS

Francisco Lindor wants another premier player to join him on the Mets after the franchise’s exceptional run to the NLCS ( 

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Lindor is desperate for a talent like Soto to join him playing ball at Citi Field. On Monday night, the 30-year-old was named a finalist for the NL MVP award, alongside the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani and the Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte.

After a slow start to the year, Lindor finished the 2024 season with a .273/.344/.500 slash line and 169 hits, including 33 home runs, 39 doubles, and a triple. Lindor also recorded 91 RBI and had 29 stolen bases, but was snubbed as a finalist for the 2024 Gold Glove award.

As for Soto, the Blue Jays will hold the first meeting his week, followed by the Red Sox, Mets, and Yankees, according to ESPN. Soto is reportedly looking for a deal worth at least $600 million for up to 14 years. He turned down a 15-year, $440 million offer from the Washington Nationals in 2022 before he was traded to the Padres.