"Questions Juan Soto asked were real" - Red Sox manager reveals conversation before blockbuster $765,000,000 Mets deal

Red Sox managed Alex Cora spoke about his negotiations with Juan Soto during free agency this winter and how impressed he was. Boston was one of the contenders for the outfielder's signature before he signed a historic $765 million contract with the New York Mets.

On the "Baseball Isn't Boring" podcast, Cora revealed his conversations with Soto and how contract negotiations have evolved over the years:

"It was a big meeting, a really good one. ... It's cool that you get to know the person. The questions that he asked were real. I don't know if it was him studying the Red Sox or obviously Scott (Boras) preparing them, but it was eye-opening how ... he's totally the opposite of the shuffle. He's very locked in into his craft. He knows what he wants, he knows how good he is too. And very family oriented.

"It's always a good meeting. Going into it, I didn't know. ... At the end of the day, we talk about money right. He got paid, and he ended up with a team thatmost people thought he was going to go there. It was a very real thing. It was something that we talked about for weeks."

When asked about negotiations with players as a manager in the MLB today, he said:

"It's so easy to connect with players you know. If they have another question or whatever, they can call you. It's a fun process, to be honest with you. Back in the day, they would fly people to the city and walk them around. ... now it's more about the Zoom or meeting in person and that's it. ... For certain guys, they do it. But overall, as an industry, it's not that way."

After his stellar season with the New York Yankees last year, Juan Soto entered the offseason as the biggest free agent in the market. While it eventually led to a record-breaking deal, he had meetings with several teams, including the Red Sox.

The Boston front office has since gone on to make several big moves in December, including signing World Series winner Walker Buehler. While their initial meeting with Juan Soto was positive, he eventually went in another direction, and Cora wishes him the best for his career.

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Mets HOFer David Wright gives his take on team's mindset after signing Juan Soto

New York Mets owner Steve Cohen made a statement when he spent $765 million to secure top free agent Juan Soto this winter.

They are serious about challenging for the World Series, and Hall of Famer David Wright spoke about what the move means for the organization:

"I think it's huge. It seems like the will to win within the organization is incredible."

There's a huge buzz of excitement around the Mets as they continue to build a roster to challenge for the title. No matter where they finish at the end of the season, they are one of the most exciting teams in the MLB currently.