There's a reason that venerated New York Daily News scribe Bill Madden was the first person to put forth a genuine hint about Juan Soto's defection for the Mets during the Winter Meetings. He's been around the Steinbrenner Family forever. He has a direct communication channel to their dealings. He knew Hal's offer to Soto and his line in the sand. He knew when enough was enough, and he knew when he had a story to tell.
That's what makes Madden's opinion hold so much sway, even after he lost his permanent columnist position with the Daily News in 2015 and has become a freelance contributor in the later years of his career.