NEW YORK — One phone call. That’s all it would have taken.
Francisco Lindor never made it. And according to legendary radio host Mike Francesa, that simple omission created a rift between the Mets’ two biggest stars that has never fully healed.
Juan Soto arrived in Queens on a record $765 million contract last December. He expected a warm welcome from his new teammates. What he got from Lindor was silence. And that silence spoke volumes.
Francesa drops bombshell revelation
The New York sports radio icon provided stunning details during a December 16 episode of The Mike Francesa Podcast. His sources painted a picture of dysfunction that helps explain the Mets’ 2025 collapse.
“My understanding is that Lindor and Soto was never buddy-buddy. It was never Soto and Judge. Soto loved Judge,” Francesa said. “Judge went out of his way to treat Soto very well, in every way. He was a wonderful teammate. Soto loved Judge.”
Then came the key revelation.
“My understanding is Lindor and Soto got off on the wrong foot when Lindor did not call him and welcome him to the team. But it was never that they couldn’t play together or anything major,” Francesa added.
Yankees connection looms over tension
The contrast with Soto’s Yankees experience couldn’t be starker. During his one season with the Yankees, Aaron Judge embraced Soto immediately. The two formed one of baseball’s most dangerous duos in Yankees history.
Together they combined for 82 home runs in 2024. They led the Yankees to their first World Series appearance since 2009. The Yankees captain won his second MVP award. Soto finished third in the voting.
“I’m really, really happy with what we did as a duo this year, as teammates,” Soto said after the World Series. “It’s just incredible, out there in the field, inside the clubhouse, how that guy manages himself and everything. I was really happy. I really learned a lot of things from him.”
Judge’s leadership style with the Yankees clearly resonated with Soto. Lindor’s approach with the Mets apparently did not. The difference speaks volumes about clubhouse culture and what the Yankees built during Soto’s one magical season in pinstripes.
Clubhouse source describes ‘chilly’ relationship
Francesa’s comments confirmed earlier reporting from Mike Puma of the New York Post. In late November, Puma revealed that relations between Lindor and Soto were tense throughout the 2025 season.
“Soto is very businesslike. All business, no fluff,” a clubhouse source told Puma. “He wants to come to the yard and work his tail off and win games. He’s not into fashion or any of that stuff. Lindor is into that. It’s just two different personalities.”
The report also noted questions about who was leading the team. Lindor “seemed to lose some of his grasp on the clubhouse” as the season progressed.
Mets collapse raises serious questions
The numbers tell a devastating story. The Mets started 2025 at 36-22 by the end of May. They finished 83-79 and missed the playoffs entirely.
Soto’s individual performance was spectacular. He hit 43 home runs with 105 RBIs. He walked a league-best 127 times and led the National League in on-base percentage at .396. His 160 OPS+ ranked among the best in baseball.
Lindor produced as well. He slugged 31 homers with 86 RBIs and posted a 129 OPS+.
But talent alone doesn’t win championships. Chemistry matters. And the Mets clearly lacked it.
Soto offers diplomatic response
The former Yankees slugger addressed the situation during a recent interview in the Dominican Republic. His answer was polished but brief.
“Good. I get along very well with Lindor,” Soto said. “You know, he’s a great ballplayer and a tremendous person and a happy person in the clubhouse amongst everything else.”
The response felt like classic public relations management. No denial of tension. No enthusiastic praise. Just carefully chosen words that kept the peace. Yankees fans noticed the stark contrast with how Soto spoke about Judge.
Yankees fans watching from the Bronx
The irony isn’t lost on Yankees faithful. They watched Soto leave for $765 million and worried about what the Yankees lost. Now they’re watching dysfunction unfold across town.
The Yankees captain handled Soto’s departure with grace. When they met during the Subway Series last May, Judge embraced his former teammate and offered encouragement.
“Just said hello to him,” Judge told reporters. “Just kind of wishing him the best, kind of said, ‘Hey man, you’re the best in the game. Things like this are gonna happen, just keep playing your game.'”
That’s leadership. That’s how the Yankees captain treats superstars. Lindor could take notes from his Yankees counterpart.
Mets roster upheaval continues
The clubhouse drama helps explain the Mets’ aggressive roster overhaul this winter. They traded Brandon Nimmo to Texas. They lost Pete Alonso to Baltimore. Edwin Diaz signed with the Dodgers.
Francesa revealed even more tension involving Nimmo and Lindor. He claimed political differences about President Donald Trump drove a wedge between them.
“The Nimmo-Lindor thing, my understanding, was political. Had to do with Trump,” Francesa said. “One side liked Trump, one side didn’t like Trump. That’s my understanding. It started over Trump. As crazy as that sounds, crazier things have happened.”
The Mets now face a critical question. They have Soto locked up for 15 years. Lindor remains under contract through 2031. Can these two find common ground? Or will the tension that began with one missed phone call continue to haunt Queens for years to come? Meanwhile, Yankees fans wonder what might have been had Soto stayed in the Bronx with teammates who actually appreciated him.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
From what was written, if you can believe it, Soto was upset the Yankees wouldn’t give in to his demand of private boxes and travel for his family. It was all about what he could get including a extra $5million from the Mets. So he kind of has the same mentality of a me first instead of team oriented person. Now the Mets have to deal with the drama.