NEW YORK — The biggest free agent saga of the 2024-25 offseason ended with Juan Soto in a Mets uniform, not pinstripes. And for just a $5 million difference, it may be a decision both Soto and the New York Yankees are second-guessing in very different ways.
Soto, who stunned the baseball world by signing a 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets last December, reportedly spurned the Yankees’ offer of $760 million over 16 years. The Bronx faithful, who embraced the slugger during his one-year rental in 2024, were left stunned. So too, it seems, was Soto himself.
“It was a tough decision. (The Yankees) were number one … but we couldn’t get it done,” Soto told Heyman. “But at the end of the day, things work for a good reason. I trust what we’ve done. And we’ll see what happens.”
What has followed since that contract ink dried is growing into one of the most scrutinized superstar situations in New York baseball history.
From beloved Bomber to Booed in the Bronx
Soto’s return to Yankee Stadium this past weekend in a Mets uniform was supposed to be a celebration of talent. Instead, it became a parade of boos, groundouts, and questions.
The 26-year-old went 1-for-10 with four walks and three strikeouts in the Subway Series. At one point, he reportedly declined to be miked up for ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball,” ceding the spotlight to Brandon Nimmo.
The optics haven’t improved since. Soto has drawn criticism for his effort level, particularly after a slow jog out of the batter’s box Monday night resulted in a missed opportunity. Mets manager Carlos Mendoza admitted, “We’ll talk to him about it.”
“He thought he had it,” Mendoza said. “But with the wind, and that wall, you’ve got to get out of the box.”
Former Yankees and Mets reliever Adam Ottavino didn’t hold back on MLB Network.
“You gotta bust it,” Ottavino said. “People are watching Juan Soto the way people used to watch Michael Jordan. There’s no room for slacking off. He’s learning that the hard way.”
“Something’s Up”
Ottavino added that he’d initially dismissed concerns about Soto’s body language but has changed his tune.
“Something’s up. His spirit’s not quite the same right now,” Ottavino said.
He’s not alone in that observation. Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez and former manager Terry Collins both noticed something off about Soto’s demeanor.
“I’m a big Juan Soto fan,” Collins told SNY. “But I have not seen him go about things like he did this weekend. That’s got to be addressed.”
Reports from NJ Advance Media and ESPN’s Michael Kay add further fuel. Kay claimed Soto looked “glum” and preferred a Yankees return but was swayed by his family to sign with the Mets.
“He wanted to return to the Yankees. That was his preference,” Kay said on his radio show. “His family said, ‘You’re going to the Mets.’”
A $765 million blunder? Debate expands
Even under normal circumstances, Soto’s numbers would raise few alarms: a .246/.376/.439 slash line with eight home runs and 20 RBIs. But for the face of a $765 million franchise, they’ve triggered concern.
“Those numbers are decent,” said former Yankees analyst and scout Paul Kinsey. “But not when you’re being paid to carry the team and reshape a franchise’s culture.”
More pointedly, the optics surrounding Soto’s effort level, media availability, and body language have overshadowed his production.
Mendoza insists Soto is “too good a player” not to rebound. Teammate Francisco Lindor backed him too, saying, “He’s quiet, comes in, gives quality at-bats. I think he’s handled it well.”
But for Mets fans, and a media market thirsty for instant results, patience is thin.
From Yankee hero to Queens enigma
Soto’s brief Yankees stint now looms large in hindsight. He helped power New York to the 2024 World Series, re-energized a lineup built around Aaron Judge, and became a fan favorite virtually overnight. His presence was magnetic.
And his departure? Sudden and surprising.
By many accounts, the Yankees front office believed they were close to retaining Soto. Their 16-year, $760 million offer was competitive. But in the end, a slightly higher $3.5-million AAV from the Mets—and influence from Soto’s inner circle—swung the deal.
Yankees fans now watch from afar as their former star grapples with boos in the Bronx, awkward postgame interviews, and unmet expectations.
Mets, Soto now enter PR crucible
The Mets’ on-field struggles in May—8-10 after a strong April—have only intensified the spotlight on Soto. The team ranks 21st in OPS with runners in scoring position, and fan sentiment has turned.
Owner Steve Cohen offered a plea for calm after Tuesday’s 2-0 loss to Boston.
“Welcome to the ups and downs of a baseball season. This too will pass,” he posted on X.
But for Soto, who passed on the Yankees for $3.5 million more and a fresh start, every at-bat now carries legacy implications. Is he a franchise savior, or did the Mets buy into a mirage?
“If you look uncomfortable, fans notice. If you don’t hustle, they notice. If you don’t smile, they notice,” Kinsey said. “That’s the price of being the highest-paid player ever.”
The road ahead
In New York, the expectations don’t match the money—they exceed it.
Juan Soto chose Queens over the Bronx, even if his heart may have leaned otherwise. Now, every game he plays, every ball he watches instead of chases, becomes part of a $765 million narrative.
It’s not too late for Soto to rewrite the story. But right now, the script is being written by others.
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