New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto generating more boos than RBI (zero) during a three-game series at the New York Yankees did little to quiet chatter about how he is and/or isn’t fitting in with the Mets this spring.
For an article published on Monday, Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media revealed that sports-talk radio personalities and fans aren’t the only people who have noticed that Soto hasn’t looked like the happiest of generational talents over the first two months of his Mets tenure.
“I’m told they’re concerned about Soto’s lack of enthusiasm for his new team,” Klapisch said about what he referred to as “the Mets’ hierarchy.” Klapisch also pointed out that “the only time Soto seemed happy this weekend was while he interacted with” Yankees captain Aaron Judge, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. and manager Aaron Boone in the Bronx.
Before the Mets dropped two of three games to the Yankees, Will Sammon of The Athletic insisted that Soto’s teammates “think he loves it here” and said that the slugger has simply been disappointed about the fact that he hasn’t consistently performed “at an elite-elite level” since he signed a 15-year, $765M contract that could exceed $800M total to join the Amazins this past offseason.
Against the Yankees, Soto went 1-for-10 with four walks. Per Manny Gomez of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, Soto failed to reach base safely across his final six plate appearances of the series. Sammon mentioned that Soto is currently in the middle of a slump that involves going 1-for-20 with runners in scoring position.
It appears such numbers aren’t the only reasons the Mets are allegedly worried about Soto ahead of Memorial Day.
“He’d agreed to be miked up by ESPN in the second inning, but changed his mind minutes before the game,” Klapisch added about how Soto handled a “Sunday Night Baseball” broadcast request. “Soto told Mets officials he was tired of answering questions about Aaron Judge, sick of explaining why he chose the Mets. …The fact that Soto blew off the network was only the first sign of his darkening state of mind. The second was Soto’s conduct after the Mets’ 8-2 loss. Not only was he held hitless, the signature swag had vanished.”
Klapisch also said that Soto avoided reporters after Sunday’s defeat and has “put on a few pounds around the middle.”
“That’s not the same stand-up guy who was always at his locker last season,” Klapisch continued. “Even after being skewered on Friday, Soto spoke of the obligation to ‘take it like a man.’ Two days later, he was running for the exit.”
Over his first 46 games with the Mets, Soto slashed .246/.379/.443 with an .822 OPS, eight home runs and 20 RBI. Needless to say, he thus far hasn’t matched the value of his massive contract with his play.
Per MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY, outfielder and designated hitter Starling Marte “has proven invaluable during Soto’s transition from the businesslike Yankees to the vibey Mets.” The two have known one another since Soto made his way through the minor league system, and Martino explained that “folks in the (Mets) organization believe that Soto has made significant progress settling in — smiling more of late, and getting closer to the theatrical flow that has long made him the most exciting hitter in baseball.”
Assuming Klapisch is correct, it seems not everybody within the Mets is convinced Soto isn’t having some regrets about leaving the Bronx Bombers for the Mets after he helped the Yankees make a trip to the 2024 World Series.
