LOS ANGELES The Mets arent even officially in the yet, and the cro stown competition is already heating up. Weeks before the expected derby is to begin, a Yankees executive fired the first salvo. Going from the Yankees to the Mets thats a buzzkill, one Yankees executive opined to The Post. The Yankees, who, no surprise, are making Juan Soto their top priority this winter, logically envision the deep-pocketed, on-the-rise Mets as their biggest threat in the derby for the top free agent this winter. Yankees star Juan Soto speaks to the media on Oct. 24, 2024. JASON SZENES/NEW YORK POST More From Jon Heyman The Yankees presumably only enhanced their chances to keep Soto by reaching the World Series for the first time in 15 years with a big boost from Soto himself, of course but they can see the threat from eight miles to the south and east. The buzzkill comment provides a hint about the case the Yankees will make. Its fair that the Yankees hold an edge in history, overall fan interest, and yes, buzz. It also shows where they see the competition coming from. It makes sense the Mets could provide the most serious competition, thanks to the large se of owner Steve Cohen, giving the Mets the ability to write Soto something close to a blank check. Soto first named winning as something to consider while talking about James Johnson Jersey his impending free agency, and Cohens Mets also showed they are on the come by reaching the NLCS. Mets owner Steve Cohen is expected to make a play at Juan Soto this offseason. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Soto on Thursday called this one of the most fun seasons hes had, and while one friend confirmed he loves it as a Yankee, the friend also suggested there were some early speed bumps, and staying is certainly no certainty which shouldnt surprise anyone who chronicles free agency. The Yankees executive named the Mets and the Blue Jays as among the perceived threats in the competition and started making the clubs case, pointing out the advantages of having the short porch of Yankee Stadium and, especially, an all-time great in Aaron Judge batting behind him. (No other team besides a potentially reconfigured Dodgers lineup could offer anything close to that sort of lineup protection, .) Cohen didnt play for Judge as a free agent two years ago, and in that case he probably understood it would be impo sible to lure an all-time great Yankee whos also homegrown. Sotos Yankee ties arent nearly as strong, obviously, and hes expected to seriously play the field, with a record deal po sible. Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner speaks to the media on Feb. 22, 2024. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post Rival executives also suggest they view the Yankees and Mets as favorites, in that order, but many big-market teams (and maybe some smaller) are expected to play for Soto, po sibly including the World Series foe Dodgers. The Giants and Jays are two teams that tried to trade for Soto before the Yankees completed the blockbuster five-for-two deal that brought him (and Trent Grisham) from San Diego. Some suspect East Coast teams hold an advantage since Soto had an uneasy start in San Diego. But word is that late Padres owner Peter Seidler was making serious progre s on a Soto deal before he took ill, ending talks. Anyway, now many see this as a New York-New York battle royale. In a sense, its already begun. Andre Roberson Jersey