Former NY Mets player takes valid Juan Soto point too far after his Yankees reveal

Cameron Maybin has two claims to fame with the New York Mets. One is that he was traded to the team for a dollar back in 2021. The other is that his 9 games included him going 1 for 28 before getting released.

Maybin was no jobber as a ball player, though. We just happened to catch him at the tail end of a good career. Following his retirement, Maybin spent some time broadcasting with the New York Yankees before joining the Detroit Tigers organization to do the same. His opinion matters. And for him, an ex-big leaguer, to say it’s a big deal Juan Soto didn’t talk to any of his former Yankees teammates this offseason matters.

Maybin’s read wasn’t much different than what most people said about this. His agreement carries more weight because he’d know whether players have contact. Where Maybin went to an extreme was going as deep as he did to name every Hispanic player on the Mets 40-man roster.

C’mon now, the Mets didn’t get Juan Soto because of all of those guys

If Jose Azocar had anything to do with Soto choosing the Mets, there was never any hope for the Yankees. Although briefly teammates with Soto with the San Diego Padres, a reconnection for this soon-to-be gone outfielder had nothing to do with this massive free agent signing. The inclusion of Jose Siri adds to the belly laugh as Soto and he weren’t exactly known to be the best of friends after this incident.

Maybin’s point is a victim of saying too much to get an identical point across. The Mets have embraced the culture of many of their stars hailing from Latin America and the Caribbean. They let Jose Iglesias be who he needed to be. They aren’t the stuffy nosed corporate Yankees who’ll hand you a razor if you have a five o’clock shadow as opposed to the Mets who’d probably have a bobblehead giveaway where you look like a gnome with an oversized beard.

Was having fun a priority for Soto? When the money’s all equal, it should be.

For Maybin to insinuate fringe major league players, including some he has most assuredly never met or possibly even heard of, had anything to do with this deal getting done is like talking yourself out of a date. Share your occupation, your income, your hopes, and your dreams. Even reveal you have a kid from a previous marriage. Don’t divulge your nose-picking habits.

It was made into a huge deal that none of Soto’s Yankees teammates spoke with him. Aaron Judge had previously relayed he was giving Soto space. The result: he has given him 9.5 miles, the distance between Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.