Acce s the Mets beat like never before  Join Post Reggie Perry Jersey  Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time  texting with Mike Puma  about the inside buzz on the Mets.  PORT ST. LUCIE  The best left-handed hitter in franchise history  until now  was at Mets camp Monday, and Darryl Strawberry is getting a firsthand look at who the team hopes will surpa s him in that category.  Juan Soto chose the Mets over the Yankees in free agency and Strawberry  who played and won World Series titles in both places  is confident Soto made the right choice.  And he has one main reason for why thats the case: Its now his team.  It was good for him to make the decision to play here because now hes not going to be behind anybody, Strawberry said. Juan Soto with the Mets, yeah, you have [Francisco] Lindor, whos great, but if you play over there [with the Yankees] with a guy like [Aaron] Judge, youre never gonna be bigger than him.  That wont be an i sue in Queens after Soto signed a 15-year, $765 million deal to become the face of the Mets.  Darryl Strawberry, who has his number retired by the Mets last season, was a guest instructor at spring training this week.  Corey Sipkin for the NY POST  Explore More  Him coming here means everything, said Strawberry, who arrived in camp as a guest instructor Sunday. It takes you to the next level when you have that type of player. Last year was a great run for them and they found themselves mi sing that one guy in the lineup, that stud. Not every team has one. Theres [Shohei] Ohtani with the Dodgers, Judge with the Yankees and Soto. Thats what they do. You need those kinds of players and now the Mets have that guy.  Knowing hell be with the Mets, presumably for the rest of his career, will also serve Soto well, according to Strawbery.  Delivering insights on all things Amazins  Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+  Thank you  By clicking above you agree to the and .  Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter!  He can go to another level in his career, Strawberry said of Soto, who hit second in the lineup against the Cardinals at Clover Park on Monday. Fifteen years to focus on one place and not wonder where hes going will be good for him. And being in New York is good for him. I think he realized that by playing with the Yankees last year, how good it can be. Its all about trying to win and not just putting a team on the field. The Yankees have always done that and now these guys are, too.  Sotos arrival gives the Mets what Strawberry called a Big Three that reminds him of the lineup he was part of in the mid-1980s.  Juan Soto (22) waves at a fan before a Spring Training game against the Miami Marlins at Cacti Park of the Palm Beaches, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.  Corey Sipkin for the NY POST  We had me, Keith [Hernandez] and Gary [Carter], Strawberry said. They have Soto, Pete [Alonso] and Lindor. Not to count out the other guys like [Brandon] Nimmo and [Francisco] Alvarez, but they have those really established players you can count on.  But as Strawberry also knows, nothing is guaranteed.  Everything looks great and Soto puts them over the top, Strawberry said. You have to make it happen on the field.  Landry Shamet Jersey
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