"Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo are very inclusive" - Ex-Mets free agent claims Juan Soto won't have problem with clubhouse leaders in Queens

The New York Mets made the biggest splash in baseball history by signing All-Star slugger Juan Soto on a $765 million contract over 15 years. The Mets signed Soto despite stiff competition from rivals New York Yankees.

Juan Soto had a career-best season with the Yankees in 2024 and emerged as a fan favorite. The Dominican slugger also forged a strong bond with Yankees captain Aaron Judge in the outfield.

While he had a strong bond with Yankees players in the clubhouse, former Mets pitcher Adam Ottavino feels he won't have any problems in settling with his new teammates and leaders like Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo.

He said (15:00 onwards):

"I've been there last three years, The Mets have had a really good clubhouse. I would say between Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimmo, those two, in particular, really stand out as kind of like the main leaders of the team the past couple of years, but they're very inclusive types of people.

"They gave everybody throughout the years and honestly like I think you know, Juan Soto, there's not going to be that pressure to be the best player and be the biggest leader on the team. I think he comes in, he can be himself. There's already a culture in place and he can be additive to that, you know."

Ottavino explained how being the leader in the clubhouse is a skill and it's not always the best players or the biggest superstars on the team.

"I think if he wants to speak, I mean, of course, he's going to speak, but I think at the same time, you know, not having to be the guy (leader), might be appealing. I think sometimes we put a lot of pressure on the best players to also be the clubhouse leader and it's not necessarily the same skill set.

"I've played with guys who are superstars, they're much more, just be a member of the team and play their game and I've played with guys that maybe weren't superstars but they had a really good leadership skill within them."

Juan Soto's relationship with Yankees leader Aaron Judge came under scrutiny after Mets deal

Despite Juan Soto's bond with Aaron Judge the duo didn't speak with each other after the Yankees' World Series loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers in October.

After the Mets edged the Yankees to sign Soto, former Mets Trevor May felt Aaron Judge should've used his influence to sway the Dominican superstar to rejoin the Bronx Bombers.

“But if you want him, sometimes you just have to flex that muscle a bit because you’re Aaron Judge, man,” May said on his podcast in November.

“You are the LeBron James of the game right now, so just be him and if that helps you and you get him that’s all that matters at the end of the day. It is interesting and kind of odd that he was very adamant about his not talking to him, which seemed a little out of place with the situation.”

It will be interesting to see how Juan Soto gels with his new teammates and when he comes face to face against the Aaron Judge-led Yankees in 2025.