NEW YORK -- As far back as 14 months ago, when David Stearns was interviewing to become the Mets¡¯ president of baseball operations, he had Juan Soto in his mind. Executives routinely attempt to forecast which players might be available. Soto, whom Stearns called a ¡°generational¡± player, was the most prominent name that surfaced as Stearns and owner Steve Cohen talked hypothetical strategy.

It can be difficult to know with certainty which players might make it all the way to the open market. Some sign extensions. Others suffer injuries or struggle with performance.

¡°But we did know that if he was going to be a free agent,¡± Stearns said, ¡°we were going to make a very strong push.¡±

It was a push that included a lavish meeting at Cohen¡¯s $32 million Beverly Hills mansion -- ¡°The food¡¯s better at my house,¡± he quipped -- as well as a video from Cohen¡¯s son, Josh, whose outro featured a digitized Soto statue alongside Tom Seaver¡¯s at Citi Field. In addition to his wife, Alex, Cohen flew out his father-in-law, who attends every Mets home game. He wanted to help Soto understand how important baseball is to his family.

¡°It took ¡¯til the last second,¡± Soto said of his decision. ¡°There were five teams that were bidding big time, and they were showing me a lot of stuff. They were showing me a lot of love to come to their city, to their team.¡±

¡°To get a player of this caliber is really unusual,¡± Cohen added. ¡°So once again, you¡¯ve got to step a little bit further than you¡¯d expect.¡±

The Mets stretched well beyond record levels, offering Soto a 15-year, $765 million contract to blow away the largest previous agreement in Major League history. They threw in a suite at Citi Field for Soto¡¯s family and escalators that could bring the total value to $805 million.

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On Thursday, they unveiled Soto at Citi Field with more pomp and circumstance than they¡¯ve ever delivered at a press conference. Buffets were set up throughout the Piazza Club at Citi, featuring roast pernil, tostones, a carving station and a selection of Latin American desserts. The office was full, with the Mets¡¯ company holiday party scheduled for later in the afternoon, leading scores of team employees to crowd into the room. When Soto entered, they applauded with enthusiasm more befitting of a concert hall.

The group cheered for Cohen and Stearns and even Scott Boras, for these were the power brokers who made this union happen. As far back as August, the Mets¡¯ pursuit of Soto began shifting from the theoretical realm to the practical one, as team officials began their offseason planning. By that point, they were certain Soto would become a free agent. Stearns and Cohen wanted him.

The obstacle was Boras, an agent who has negotiated billions of dollars of contracts in his career and who, as a result, understands how to make baseball executives squirm. As late in the process as Sunday evening, Cohen didn¡¯t know where he stood. Boras is infamous for keeping teams in the dark, never letting them know if they¡¯re ahead in the bidding.

¡°I¡¯d say the demand for Juan Soto exceeded the demand for any player I¡¯ve represented before,¡± Boras said.

¡°One thing I learned a long time ago is if you want something that¡¯s amazing, it¡¯s going to be uncomfortable,¡± Cohen added. ¡°It¡¯s never going to be comfortable. And so I always stretch a little bit, because I know that¡¯s what it takes to get it done.¡±

It wasn¡¯t until the agent called Cohen on Sunday that he ascertained Soto¡¯s preference. The sport¡¯s premier free agent had chosen the Mets. At that point, the two sides simply needed to hammer out the details.

And so they did, leading to a Sunday night shockwave through the Hilton Anatole in Dallas, where baseball's Winter Meetings were about to begin, and ultimately Thursday¡¯s press conference in Queens. Dressed in a black turtleneck sweater with a large No. 22 pendant hanging around his neck, Soto spoke about the importance of family in his decision -- both his own, and the new one he agreed to enter. In front of him, the Mets had reserved 22 seats for members of Soto¡¯s bloodline. Boras referred to the scene as a ¡°wedding.¡±

Soto also spoke about winning, saying in no uncertain terms that he believes the Mets are better set up to do so than the Yankees and other clubs with whom he negotiated. Cohen told Soto that he intends to win ¡°two to four¡± World Series over the next decade.

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It is under those outsized expectations that this marriage begins. Cohen, of course, spoke of his excitement. Manager Carlos Mendoza hinted at a pairing of Francisco Lindor and Soto in the first two spots on his lineup card. And reporters asked about this new world order, in which the Mets, not the Yankees, land the best free agents and stand the strongest chance to win.

¡°What they¡¯ve been showing me, what they want to do is [make] this team a dynasty and win for a long time,¡± Soto said. ¡°So I think, ¡®Why not?¡¯¡±