Yankees-Hating NBA Star Reveals Hilarious Role in Luring Juan Soto to Mets: “Been Doing This for 3 Years”

In December 2024, MLB witnessed one of the biggest signings in its history when the Mets landed Juan Soto on a record-shattering $765 million deal. The move not only boosted Soto’s value but also put Mets owner Steve Cohen in the spotlight, with fans and analysts praising him for pulling off the impossible. But the Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard recently threw in a playful twist.

Well, Donovan Mitchell is known for not missing any chance to mock the Yankees. Remember when the Yankees first introduced Torpedo bats this season, Mitchell came down heavily asking for a suspension? Now, this time, he claimed to have 50% credit for taking away Soto from the Yankees. In a recent episode of Café con Lindor, Mitchell jokingly claimed he deserves some credit, too, for convincing Soto to choose the Mets. Yes, taking a little bit of the shine off Cohen hilariously!

So I got to give that like 25%. Stearns is like another 25, and then I do 50. You know what I mean? It’s like longevity. Like, how long were these talks going on? I’ve been doing this for three years,” Mitchell responded to Francisco Lindor when asked about how much credit he gave for landing Soto.

May 11, 2025, Queens, New York, USA: Juan Soto 22 of the New York Mets flys out during MLB, Baseball Herren, USA game Chicago Cubs at NY Metes at Citi Field Queens USA – ZUMAc268 20250511_zsp_c268_010 Copyright: xJamesxPatrickxCooperx

Three years? That way back to Soto’s time with the Nationals and Padres. So, as per Mitchell, he has been working to land Soto with the Mets for the last 3 years. Soto signed with the Yankees in 2024, keeping the door open for the Mets in the backdrop? It seems not, but Mitchell perhaps tried to share his satisfaction with eventually seeing Soto far away from the Bronx and in Queens.

We still remember how Mitchell was pumped up after Soto’s deal with the Mets. He shared how he immediately FaceTimed Soto on hearing the news and congratulated him. So, Mitchell’s hilarious way of crediting himself for landing Soto to the Mets is understandable.

Well, Donovan Mitchell is not new to baseball, nor is he just a fan of the Mets, but more than that. He was a baseball player himself.

Mets’ superfan has a history in baseball

You probably know Donovan Mitchell as the guy who led the Cavs to the No. 1 seed in the East last season. But here’s something you might not know. He wears No. 45 as a tribute to Michael Jordan’s baseball days, when Jordan rocked the number during his Minor League stint with the White Sox.

There’s more…

Mitchell has even joked that he could hit .300 in baseball as long as pitchers only threw him 80 mph fastballs!

But here’s the twist: this isn’t just talk. Back in high school, Mitchell was actually a legit baseball player, reportedly throwing 87–88 mph on the mound.

Mitchell says he was pitching 87-88 MPH as a sophomore in high school,” MLB cited Mitchell.

So, it makes sense that someone with real baseball roots would feel a connection to the game. Luckily for the Mets, Mitchell’s heart is on their side. Being a New York native, he leaned toward Queens and couldn’t resist taking shots at the Yankees for missing out on Juan Soto. And in his own way, Mitchell embraced both his baseball background and his city pride. Thus, making it all the more believable when he jokingly takes credit for Soto landing in orange and blue.

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