OT: Juan So-So?

[Jaydumo20]

Not hustling.
Seemingly not happy.
Not performing up to what Mets fans expected.

Should he have stayed in the Bronx, where he was clearly the most productive and happy?

Remember, he didn't love San Diego and they have great weather (which many BYers place a premium on for some reason) and great fans.

I want to hear takes from Mets and non Mets fans alike.

 

[uconnfan68]

Something seriously wrong with the Mets for allowing a contract like that.

 

[BrysonDeMan]

as a Yankees fan:
Soto is a great hitter and will be fine this year and in future
just will never be the most likable guy
but can easily carry a team for months

also:
- never appreciated how good of a pitcher Fried was

- whoever the Mets pitching coach is, deserves a huge bonus. he's taken some pretty average talent and gave the Mets one of the strongest starting pitching staffs (2 years in a row)

 

[Deepster]

This is a non-story.

Other than Angel Reese and Caitlyn Clark (that no one really cares about), it's a slow news period for sports and this is a completely fabricated issue. He's fine.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This is a non-story.

True, the footage of him admiring the ball he put off the wall when he should have been hustling to get as many bases as possible in case it didn't leave the park was doctored.

 

[Deepster]

True, the footage of him admiring the ball he put off the wall when he should have been hustling to get as many bases as possible in case it didn't leave the park was doctored.

I'm not sure. Is that the play he stole second on the next pitch?

 

[Deepster]

So, let's talk about this.

What do you think the Mets should do? Maybe they can cut him and just eat like 500m? Or trade him 50 games into a 15 year deal? Or bench him and play Jeff McNeil in RF? Or maybe set something up where the fans can come tar and feather him?

Or.....just stop being ridiculous and let the guy play baseball.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

All I can say is Soto will hate playing in the Bronx for as long as he's a non-Yankee.

Soto would have been el rey if he stayed in the Bronx as a de facto local hero between the DR population of the Bronx and northern Manhattan.

Instead, he took the highest bid, which I can't blame him for.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

By the end of the season he’ll still put up great numbers but playing half his games at CitiField vs Yankee Stadium will certainly have an impact.
I think it was Brandon Nimmo who said you can hit a ball on the screws but in some areas of the Citi outfield, the ball just hits a wall and dies.

 

[Deepster]

By the end of the season he’ll still put up great numbers but playing half his games at CitiField vs Yankee Stadium will certainly have an impact.
I think it was Brandon Nimmo who said you can hit a ball on the screws but in some areas of the Citi outfield, the ball just hits a wall and dies.

That’s interesting. Lindor was second in mvp voting behind Ohtani last year playing there.

Also, in their first five MLB seasons, Alonso had 191 hrs and Judge had 158. Not saying Alonso is better but again I’m not concerned about this Soto non story.

 

[TheChamps990411]

This seems to happen when the mets bring in a big talent whether in trade or free agencey. Lets just hope Soto turns out to be more Beltran than Bonilla. Remember Lindor had a pretty poor first season in Queens by his standards. I just hope Soto isnt a poison pill in the locker room that brings down everyone around him. That would be disastrous. I also think Soto needs to get moved out of the 2 hole and move to the clean up spot. Cant keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

 

[Deepster]

Soto will go into the Hall of Fame in a
Mets cap. Make book on that.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Soto will go into the Hall of Fame in a
Mets cap. Make book on that.

You had better hope so for what they invested. If he doesn’t, it will be a huge failure…or his career was derailed by injuries.

 

[Jaydumo20]

We can't assume that a flawless athlete is also a flawless person but I agree with @Deepster that this prob won't go beyond this month. But there is a chance that he is not as happy as a Met as he was a Yank. I'd actually say that is probably true. He wasn't pumped to be in San Diego.

 

[Deepster]

We can't assume that a flawless athlete is also a flawless person but I agree with @Deepster that this prob won't go beyond this month. But there is a chance that he is not as happy as a Met as he was a Yank. I'd actually say that is probably true. He wasn't pumped to be in San Diego.

So I'll push on that. Why wouldn't he be as happy as a Met?

Ownership showed more allegiance and desire to have him.
He's very close with Lindor, Edwin Diaz and Starling Marte.
He has a latino manager vs Aaron Boone. Whatever that's worth.
The fans love him and have loved him from Day 1, even with struggles at the plate.
The Mets are noted as having an abnormally close clubhouse with Manaea and Winker both taking less to stay there.
They had the best record in baseball up until a couple days ago.

 

[Alum86]

I also think Soto needs to get moved out of the 2 hole and move to the clean up spot. Cant keep doing the same thing and expecting a different result.

Agree. Slot him in at cleanup behind Alonso. Shake it up. Teams know now if they get by Lindor, Soto,and Pete they have clear sailing 4-9. Vientos, Baty, Alvarez, McNeil sure does not scare anyone at present. Black hole at the bottom, and the middle.

Soto will heat up. But yes, Soto so-so, so far.

 

[Deepster]

Here are his stats through May 20th from this year and last year (with Judge).

Rk	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GIDP	HBP
2025	214	174	33	43	9	0	8	20	6	0	38	34	0.247	0.379	0.437	0.815	76	9	0
2024	228	191	35	59	9	1	11	37	4	2	33	34	0.259	0.405	0.539	0.947	103	5	1

Basically, the same doubles, triples and HRs. Also the same walks and strikeouts. The two glaring differences so far are 12 more singles last year through 49 games and RBI.

The RBI's are clearly down, but that could totally be situational with a 1 run HR vs a 3 run HR. Or a run scoring single with 2 men in scoring position vs a lead off single.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

I'm not sure how you can claim HR's are the same when projected over a full season you're looking at a deficiency of ten hone runs.

You appear to be putting quite a bit of effort in your attempt to paint what we've seen so far of Soto's time with the Mets as a positive.

 

[Jaydumo20]

So I'll push on that. Why wouldn't he be as happy as a Met?

Ownership showed more allegiance and desire to have him.
He's very close with Lindor, Edwin Diaz and Starling Marte.
He has a latino manager vs Aaron Boone. Whatever that's worth.
The fans love him and have loved him from Day 1, even with struggles at the plate.
The Mets are noted as having an abnormally close clubhouse with Manaea and Winker both taking less to stay there.
They had the best record in baseball up until a couple days ago.

I pull for the Mets. I love this team. I don't know if any of this story is true at all. But even if it is fake news I'm not the only one saying it may be true; Say what you want about Boomer and Michael Kay ( not my favorite, to put it kindly. I CANT STAND THE GUY, to put it honestly)

Here is MY reasoning: I know you're a Mets fan. Im a Rays fan and one of the big reasons that I love my team is because I hate the Yanks. But... they are still the Yanks.
1. If Soto cares about his stature and legacy, which i would say he does, it is clearly better to wear the pinstripes than any other uni. The Yanks are arguably the biggest franchise in all American sports. Wearing that uni does and should count towards your status now and for posterity. I know he was aware of this when he decided to leave. The Yankee brand was known to him. But you dont know what it's like to go from the yanks to the mets until you go from the yanks to the mets.

2. He realizes he may have had a better chance at another ring in the Bronx and he has publicly said how advantageous it was to hit in front of the best player in the league. Judge is the best player in the league right now.

3. He likes the guys and the organization. I know he made some friendships over there and though that is not ever a main reason he could've felt more in tune with those dudes.

I know Cohen made a big impression on him and his family. I love Uncle Stevie. I WISH he could be the Rays owner instead of....well, the worst owner in the sport. But I dont think it's crazy to suggest that there are advantages to being a yankee rather than a met.

But why am I arguing. I agree with you that this is probably a non story. My OP was just trying to drum up some business in these cold summer months.

 

[Deepster]

I'm not sure how you can claim HR's are the same when projected over a full season you're looking at a deficiency of ten hone runs.

You appear to be putting quite a bit of effort in your attempt to paint what we've seen so far of Soto's time with the Mets as a positive.

LOL. I guess....if we're projecting a season based on 40 games. I guess Soto is on pace to triple last year's stolen bases. Something about being on the Mets has made him a lot quicker!

I am not painting anything. He's 2 months into a 15 year deal and I already said he'll be in the HOF in a Mets hat. I'll take anyone's bet on that one.

 

[navery12]

Putting aside that everything being brought up is complete nonsense about the not hustling and hating New York, I'm most confused about people talking about him still struggling and being in a slump. We're not 2/3 of the way through May and he has a .930 OPS this month. He's going to be fine because he's already playing really well and out of his supposed slump

 

[Fishy]

This will be known as the worst contract in the history of sports before it’s done.

 

[Deepster]

This will be known as the worst contract in the history of sports before it’s done.

Worse than Stanton’s? I find that hard to believe.

 

[Scoe]

Soto will be fine but the panic from Mets fans is funny.

 

[boog204]

Yankee fan opinion... Soto is an incredible hitter. That at-bat against Cleveland was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. But to me, he has already shown that he can be a bit petulant. He looked like a brat leaving Washington, there were tons of stories of him being a "diva" in San Diego and not getting along with anybody, he never seemed forthright as a Yankee, and, if you believe Klapisch and his "sources," Mets management is concerned that Soto is "miserable" and is struggling.

His career is an interesting take. #'s wise, he's on a Hall of Fame pace and I'm sure his #'s will be there at the end of this year and he'll continue to produce. He's just that good. But he's 26 and on his fourth team. Granted, there are some circumstances, and the days of one-team careers are largely over, but I cannot think of another potentially all-time great player bouncing around so much so early in their career.

As Fishy said, I think this will go down as a horrible contract, and I'd imagine years 8-15 are going to be painful.

 

[StllH8L8ner]

This will be known as the worst contract in the history of sports before it’s done.

Stanton’s is pretty bad but he’s sprinkled in some good years/playoffs, Bobby Bo will still be getting paid when Bryce Harper’s contract is up in 2031, but this guy takes the cake…

 

[Deepster]

Stanton’s is pretty bad but he’s sprinkled in some good years/playoffs, Bobby Bo will still be getting paid when Bryce Harper’s contract is up in 2031, but this guy takes the cake…

View attachment 109615

No. Not really. Stanton’s high with the Yankees was 100 rbis once. He has only topped 78 rbi twice in 7 seasons and the last three years he’s hit .211, .191 and .233.

And he’s still on the payroll for 28m a year for this season and the next three.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

Yankee fan opinion... Soto is an incredible hitter. That at-bat against Cleveland was one of the coolest things I've ever seen. But to me, he has already shown that he can be a bit petulant. He looked like a brat leaving Washington, there were tons of stories of him being a "diva" in San Diego and not getting along with anybody, he never seemed forthright as a Yankee, and, if you believe Klapisch and his "sources," Mets management is concerned that Soto is "miserable" and is struggling.

His career is an interesting take. #'s wise, he's on a Hall of Fame pace and I'm sure his #'s will be there at the end of this year and he'll continue to produce. He's just that good. But he's 26 and on his fourth team. Granted, there are some circumstances, and the days of one-team careers are largely over, but I cannot think of another potentially all-time great player bouncing around so much so early in their career.

As Fishy said, I think this will go down as a horrible contract, and I'd imagine years 8-15 are going to be painful.

i honestly thought he was going to stay with the Yankees. It seemed like he found a home. And with Judge there, he didn’t have as much pressure to produce.

But…I was ok that he didn’t stay…because of all the other big contracts…and I have Stanton PTSD. He wasn’t the worst contract out there…but his is one of the worst.

It’s amazing how effectively these agents have manipulated the owners. Owners are signing contracts where they know the last 5 years of the deals with be awful for the team. But if they don’t do it, another owner will.

 

[Purple Stein]

This will be known as the worst contract in the history of sports before it’s done.

Aren't the Mets still paying Bobby Bonilla through 2035?

 

[boog204]

Worse than Stanton’s? I find that hard to believe.

It'll be close. Stanton has not had great regular seasons and, to no one's surprise, has been hurt and out for varying amounts of time over the last 6-7 years. But those 18 postseason HRs, many in huge moments, have in some ways mitigated his regular-season play, and to his credit, he has handled NY extremely well.

And as posted above, Rendon's deal might be the worst of them all. In six years with the Angels, he's yet to play over 58 games in a season and openly admitted he does not care. And I think the Angels knew that and still signed him.