The Mets' pursuit of star free agent Juan Soto is heating up, with team owner Steve Cohen reportedly set to meet the outfielder and his agent Scott Boras next week.

Soto was traded to the Yankees last winter and signed a one-year,  $31million contract with the team, who went on to reach the World Series this fall.

But the 26-year-old is now in line for a much bigger and more lucrative deal, and the New York Post reported that Cohen will travel to Southern California next week in attempts to woo the four-time All-Star.

The report added that it increasingly looks like Soto is a 'priority' for the Mets this offseason after their run to the NLCS, but they'll face stern competition for the player.

The Post previously reported that as many as 11 teams - including the Yankees and defending-champion Dodgers - were interested in Soto.

Some other teams' owners are reportedly expected to meet with Soto soon as well, though it was not specified which franchises will be represented. 

The player, who blasted 41 home runs this season, could reportedly command a contract as large as $700million over 10 years.

After the World Series defeat to the Dodgers, Soto said, 'I'm going to be available for all 30 teams' and 'I don't want to say anybody has any advantage.' 

Yankees GM Brian Cashman has made it clear that his ballclub wants to retain Soto, saying that New York is willing to meet with him as often as he wants.

'We certainly have an interest in retaining him and we'll put our best foot forward there,' he said from the general managers meetings.

'That will either lead to us retaining him and signing him back or we'll be forced to go to a different direction if we can't. And if we can't, there's a lot of different players in this marketplace that can positively impact this roster in different ways.'

Regarding the Mets, who stormed into the NCLS before falling in six gams to the Dodgers, Cashman added, 'They want to win. They're in a large market with us. They had a taste of success this year and they want to move the needle even more forward.'

After falling to the Dodgers in five games in the Fall Classic, the Yankees are set to bring back ace Gerrit Cole, while Anthony Rizzo was released.