After the New York Mets signed Juan Soto to the largest contract in MLB history, he made another deal with 25-year-old infielder Brett Baty. Soto has worn No. 22 during the entirety of his MLB career with the Yankees, Padres, and Nationals. But that number was already taken by Baty, who has played for the Mets since 2022.

Baty said in conversations with Vientos and Mets manager of team travel Edgar Suero that he had always indicated he'd want "something spacious" in a new vehicle. He said he knew something was up when Suero asked him for his car insurance on Wednesday.

Soto has worn the No. 22 for the entirety of his MLB career, spanning stints with three different franchises. Clearly it's important to him, and the Mets themselves leaned into it at his introductory p press conference. There was just one tiny hiccup: The No. 22 was already occupied in Queens, by infielder and former top prospect Brett Baty.