Nationals

Donovan Mitchell makes pitch for Juan Soto to join Mets

Nationals
Donovan Mitchell and Juan Soto

Juan Soto won’t be a free agent until 2024, but that isn’t stopping baseball fans from attempting to recruit him to their favorite teams on social media.

That includes Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, who commented on an Instagram post Wednesday and quote tweeted a screenshot on Twitter in an attempt to coax Soto to join the New York Mets.

Mitchell — whose father Donovan Mitchell Sr. is the Mets’ director of diversity, equity and inclusion — tweets about his favorite MLB club often, even sharing a dream he had earlier this offseason in which free agent shortstop Carlos Correa signed on to play in Queens. Yet given his relation to a Mets executive, Mitchell’s harmless tweet does blur the lines of tampering a bit.

Regardless, both he and the Mets will have to wait three more seasons before Soto is eligible to hit free agency. The Nationals are reportedly making an effort to prevent him from hitting the open market, offering a 13-year, $350 million extension prior to the lockout. Soto declined that offer, betting on himself as a player in line to receive one of the richest contracts in MLB history.

If and when Soto does reach the end of his rookie deal, the Mets will have to get in line to compete for the young phenom’s services.