Takeaways from Juan Soto's introductory presser: 'It's been a Mets town for a long time'

NEW YORK — Juan Soto seemed to approach his introductory press conference with the Mets much the same way he sets up at the plate for his at-bats. Sitting at a long table on a raised stage in the jam-packed Piazza club at Citi Field, he clamped his teeth down on his bottom lip and nodded his head up and down. It was the same expression we'd seen him make in the batter's box, except this time, instead of staring down the pitcher, he was facing his future. 

Soto was his usual picture of confidence as he exchanged his navy blue blazer for a white No. 22 New York Mets jersey that he wore over his black turtleneck sweater. Mets owner Steve Cohen, who looked both exhausted and relieved after the rollercoaster of emotions of the past week, extended his hand to Soto and officially started their 15-year, $765 million partnership. What's step one? Build a dynasty in Queens so that the Mets become one of the premiere elite teams in baseball. 

"Definitely that was one of the things that opened my eyes more," Soto said on Thursday at Citi Field. "How hungry they are to win a championship, and to want to make a dynasty with the New York Mets."

Let's dive into three takeaways from a special day in Mets franchise history.

Being the recipient of the largest contract in professional sports history was the elephant in the room, but besides the obvious, the two words that Soto most mentioned throughout his first big day as a Met were winning and family. 

While Soto was still deciding where he would spend his future, he asked Cohen during their second meeting this offseason how many championships the Mets owner would like to win over the next 10 years. Cohen answered: "I'd like to win two to four." That ambitious response resonated with