New York Mets stars Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor cleared the air about a possible rift between the two players last season that bled into the early stages of 2026.
"There were no issues last year - at all," Soto said Friday, according to Will Sammon of The Athletic. "We didn't have any beef or anything. Definitely, our relationship is getting better because it takes time. When you meet a girl, you don't start kissing her right away."
Lindor echoed a similar sentiment as his teammate.
"The more time we spend together, it's only natural that our relationship continues to grow," Lindor said. "We've been teammates for two years now. Time has been on our side. I have nothing but respect for him. He's my brother. He's somebody I respected from a distance and respect here, inside."
The players' comments come after reports that the duo dealt with a personality clash in 2025 amid a disappointing campaign for the Mets.
The friction remained earlier this season, a source told Sammon, who adds that recently fired manager Carlos Mendoza had a large role in mending relations.
The dynamic between the two stars reportedly made it tough for other Mets to figure out which player to lean on for leadership.
Mets owner Steven Cohen downplayed relationship issues, acknowledging it was "last year's story."
Soto and Lindor had "hard conversations" that led to members of the Mets feeling better about the situation, sources told Sammon.
"I didn't think it was a hard conversation," Lindor said. "It was just, we talked. We talk every single day, whether it's hitting or different topics."
The Mets committed over $1 billion to Soto and Lindor. The duo are slated to be teammates for at least five more seasons after 2026 due to no-trade clauses.
