Juan Soto, Lindor address relationship after Cohen confirms drama
Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor say their relationship is steadily improving after Mets owner Steve Cohen confirmed there was real tension between the franchise stars during the 2025 season. Cohen called it last year's issue, believes they are getting along much better now, and said neither player is going anywhere. Both stars then spoke publicly and downplayed any personal beef.
The back-and-forth caps weeks of whispers around Citi Field about whether New York's two highest-paid cornerstones could coexist. For fans tracking Celebrity Breaking News, the story shifted from rumor to confirmation — then to a public reset.
Key Takeaways
- Steve Cohen acknowledged 2025 tension between Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor but said the feud is in the past.
- Cohen told The Show podcast he does not see either star being traded and believes their relationship is improving.
- Soto told The Athletic there were "no issues" last year, while Lindor called Soto "my brother."
- Jon Heyman reported Cohen previously called the pair together to try to resolve their differences.
- Multiple outlets described the split as an "open secret" around the Mets despite public denials.
What did Steve Cohen say about the Juan Soto-Lindor feud?
Cohen addressed the dynamic on The Show podcast with New York Post columnists Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman. When asked about Lindor and Soto's relationship, he did not dismiss past problems.
"Frankly, I think that's a story that was last year's issue," Cohen said. He added that he is "told and believe strongly" the two are "getting along much better" and that he no longer sees it as a clubhouse problem.
Cohen also shut down trade speculation tied to the stars. SNY reported he put it plainly: "I don't see them going anywhere." He said he is thrilled to have both high-quality players on the roster now that last year's issues are gone.
How did Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor respond?
Speaking to The Athletic's Will Sammon on Friday, Soto pushed back on the idea that he and Lindor had any conflict in 2025. "There were no issues last year — at all," Soto said. "We didn't have any beef or anything."
Soto framed the relationship as a work in progress. "Definitely, our relationship is getting better because it takes time," he said, adding: "When you meet a girl, you don't start kissing her right away."
Lindor offered a similar message. The shortstop told Sammon that as teammates for two seasons since Soto's historic 15-year Mets deal, time has helped their bond grow. "I have nothing but respect for him. He's my brother," Lindor said.
Did Steve Cohen try to broker peace between the stars?
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported that Cohen intervened directly at one point. According to MLB sources cited by Heyman, the owner called Soto and Lindor together to "hash it out."
In a July 2 column, Heyman wrote that Cohen's podcast comments were treated by many as a revelation, even though the friction was "known to everyone around the team" and fair to call an "open secret." Post beat writer Mike Puma had reported in November that the stars had a "chilly" relationship after their first season together.
Heyman also noted superstar clashes on winning teams are hardly new — meaning the Mets may not need perfect friendship, only functional coexistence.
Why does this Mets drama matter now?
Soto and Lindor were paired as the public face of Cohen's blockbuster investment when the Mets signed Soto ahead of the 2025 season. Any visible rift between them fuels trade-deadline speculation and questions about whether a winning culture can form around two megastars.
Cohen's remarks, plus the players' interviews, amount to a coordinated attempt to close the chapter. Whether fans believe the peace is real may depend less on quotes than on what happens when the Mets take the field together the rest of the season.