NEW YORK – This situation was hard to watch for Yankees fans.

Meanwhile, Juan Soto was proudly wearing his new Mets jersey at Citi Field, as a crowd of Mets staff celebrated around him, and team officials expressed their admiration.

Fans of the Bronx Bombers likely don’t want to hear Soto’s excitement about the Mets’ prospects or how much he and his family appreciate their new life in Queens.

This marked a significant moment for the Mets, as noted by owner Steve Cohen who called it “a huge day for the Mets,” thanking Soto and his agent Scott Boras “for believing in what we’re building.”

Even though the Yankees lost a generational talent like Soto after just one season, their focus on winning a championship remains unchanged.

They’ll just need to find a different path and perhaps gain some insights throughout this journey.

Was the choice as simple as Soto opting for the higher offer – $765 million over 15 years with escalators and an opt-out option compared to $760 million over 16 years?

“I’m curious to learn what led him to this decision,” Mets General Manager David Stearns said, describing it as “not just a baseball decision but a family decision” for Soto.

During a festive Thursday at Citi Field, the vision of the Mets’ promising future alongside Soto’s role became a central topic.

Boras claimed that the Yankees did not make any errors in their negotiations.

“They were proactive,” Boras praised Hal Steinbrenner and his team. “They made their intentions clear throughout this process.”

If the Yankees’ top monetary offer wasn’t the sole factor for Soto’s decision, what else tipped the scales in favor of the Mets?

With the historic MLB salary involved, Boras advised Soto to “take the time to consider these other factors” beyond just the money.

Soto’s large family, which Boras playfully referred to as “the Supreme Court of Soto,” significantly influenced his final choice, which actually “came down to the last day,” Soto himself relayed.

Alex Cohen, Steve Cohen’s wife, was praised multiple times for her crucial involvement during this entire process. A philanthropist with a Latin background, she hails from a working-class family.

However, there was a moment in the negotiations when Stearns believed the Mets had less than a 50% chance of acquiring Soto.

“We acknowledged his positive experience in the Bronx,” Stearns commented. He also discussed the Mets’ roster-building strategy with Soto.

The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Blue Jays were also contenders, but Soto’s team did not define a specific runner-up in the bidding — simply noting that the Mets presented a compelling case for their future together.

Boras chuckled as he recalled how the Mets concluded their initial video presentation to Soto last month.

They even placed a superimposed statue of Soto next to the Tom Seaver statue outside Citi Field.

Perhaps the Yankees should have included a statue of Soto in Monument Park during their pitch. Who knows if they actually did that?

And it remains unclear what additional efforts the Yankees made to secure Soto’s signing aside from their top financial offer.

“I feel like they did everything they could to try to bring me back,” Soto remarked. “I had (four) other teams pursuing me, but ultimately, “I believe we have the best opportunity here.”