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PORT ST. LUCIE — Brett Baty had a feeling something might be up when the Mets’ traveling secretary asked for his automobile insurance information earlier this week. 

That traveling secretary, Edgar Suero — along with Baty’s teammate, Mark Vientos — had already been quizzing him on what kind of vehicle he might want when he finally got around to purchasing a new one.

Baty had been driving the same one since high school and it had become something of a running joke between him and Vientos about getting something new. 

On Thursday, Baty got his new vehicle. Before the team’s workout at Clover Park, he was called into the parking lot, where Juan Soto awaited with a new Chevy Tahoe (valued at $92,000, according to Soto) as a thank you for Baty agreeing to give No. 22 to the All-Star outfielder after his arrival to the Mets in December. 

Soto had told The Post last weekend that a “gift was on the way” and added that Baty was unaware of it.

Soto at the time would only say he expected to give Baty the gift before the end of spring training. 

“For me, it’s not about the car or anything, it’s something that is going to make him happy and whenever he sees it he’s going to say it was worth it giving me the No. 22,” Soto said Thursday. “That is what it’s all about. To make him feel good and make him feel comfortable and be thankful for what he’s done. 

“There’s some guys that don’t like to give away their number, but he just gave it away for me and I am just thankful for that and I just made sure he gets something that he is really going to appreciate.” 

Christmas came early in Port St. Lucie! 🎁🌴

Juan Soto gifted Brett Baty a new car for letting him wear #22 pic.twitter.com/bHLNNFinZQ

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) February 20, 2025

Baty had been driving a 2016 Toyota 4Runner with roughly 150,000 miles on it. He planned to leave that vehicle in the Mets’ parking lot on Thursday and start testing out his new wheels. 

“It’s amazing for [Soto] to do something like that,” Baty said. “I couldn’t be more grateful. I am just really excited that he’s on our team and then I get to learn from him and just learn from one of the best hitters in the game.” 

The two have begun seeing plenty of each other this spring: Soto’s locker is adjacent to Baty’s in the Mets clubhouse. 

Baty has switched to No. 7 — Jose Reyes and Joe Mauer, two players Baty admired growing up, wore that number. 

Baty said he received a phone call from a Mets official around the time Soto reached agreement on a historic 15-year contract worth $765 million that No. 22 had been requested.

After Baty agreed, he received a text message from Soto saying the gesture was appreciated and Baty would be taken care of with a gift. 

“I was hoping maybe something was going to happen,” Baty said. “But I wasn’t expecting anything and [the vehicle] was above and beyond.” 

It’s not the first time in recent seasons a vehicular transaction has occurred between Mets teammates.

Jeff McNeil last offseason received a Ford Bronco from Francisco Lindor to make good on a promise Lindor had made to the second baseman of buying him a car if he won the National League batting title.

McNeil hit .326 to win the title in 2022 and finally received his prize from Lindor about 14 months later. 

McNeil told The Post he doesn’t know how many miles he’s put on the Bronco, but said it gets driven.