After a lackluster start to the 2024 MLB season, the New York Mets surged into contention, ultimately reaching the National League Championship Series, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers, the eventual World Series champions. The atmosphere in the Mets” clubhouse was buoyed by the hit song “OMG” from utility player Jose “Candelita” Iglesias. Following numerous seasons marked by disappointment, there appeared to be genuine optimism regarding the Mets” prospects for winning their first World Series title in nearly four decades. The front office bolstered this optimism by securing the top free agent of the 2024 offseason: Dominican superstar outfielder Juan Soto. After a fierce bidding war with the New York Yankees, Soto chose to join the Mets with a staggering contract worth $765 million.
Juan Soto”s career trajectory could fill a book, but more intriguing is the impact his presence has had on various teams. As the 2025 season unfolded, the Mets significantly underperformed relative to their potential, missing the playoffs entirely while being overshadowed by the Cincinnati Reds. How could a team that reached the NLCS and added a player considered among the top five in the world fail to qualify for the postseason? It is a perplexing situation, and one that should not have been possible.
Baseball is often described as a game of inches, with small margins distinguishing the best teams from the worst. However, the Mets” failure feels not just unlikely, but almost incomprehensible. This is not the first time a team with Juan Soto has faced such an outcome. Just two seasons ago, the San Diego Padres were among the favorites for the World Series after acquiring Soto at the previous season”s trade deadline. Following a strong performance that led them to the NLCS, the Padres further enhanced their roster by signing superstar shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Yet, the team still failed to qualify for the playoffs.
Am I placing the blame solely on Juan Soto? Absolutely not. However, it is noteworthy that after Soto”s departure, the Padres, despite appearing to weaken their lineup, recorded one of their most successful regular seasons in franchise history. It raises the question: how can a team improve after losing a generational talent? Soto”s statistics reveal he did not underperform; instead, he was among the league”s most valuable players during his tenures with both the Padres and Mets. In 2023, he finished sixth in MVP voting, boasting a .930 OPS and 5.3 WAR, and is on track to finish in the top five again this season with a .921 OPS and 6.2 WAR. Despite these impressive numbers, they have not translated into team success.
Understanding why these teams have struggled invites deeper analysis of who Juan Soto is as a player. Descriptors like talented, explosive, hard-hitting, exceptional, and generational are often used, perhaps even as an understatement. Soto has been likened to baseball legends, with some arguing he possesses unmatched plate discipline. He made his Major League debut at just 19 and was pivotal in the 2019 Nationals” World Series victory—an achievement that speaks to his exceptional talent.
What has changed since then? The only comparable scenario might be the Los Angeles Dodgers, but the addition of Shohei Ohtani to their roster has led to immediate success, unlike Soto”s tenure with the Mets. Ohtani”s Dodgers won the World Series in his inaugural season, and they are likely to remain contenders for years to come.
Currently, after only one year in the Mets organization, Soto has a long contract ahead of him. However, can the Mets truly be considered contenders right now? I doubt it, and I believe much of this stems from Juan Soto”s influence.
When I refer to Soto, I am not criticizing him as a hitter. It is evident that a team with a player of his caliber is generally superior to one without. Rather, my focus is on Soto as a concept, encompassing more than just raw talent. Critics often highlight his defensive shortcomings, a valid point, and some argue that his plate discipline can be detrimental, which I can understand to an extent. My concern lies with his role within the Mets.
This perspective might be contentious, but I contend that the Mets should not have given Soto the contract and leverage that they did, considering his player archetype. While Soto is undeniably talented, he does not contribute to winning in the same way that his teammate Francisco Lindor does, yet he earns more than double Lindor”s salary. Unlike Soto, Lindor puts himself on the line for the team every game, excels defensively, and despite less flashy offensive statistics, consistently performs in clutch situations. While Soto is superior offensively, baseball encompasses more than just numbers, especially in high-pressure playoff scenarios.
Is it mere coincidence that analytically-driven teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays have maintained success without a player of Soto”s stature? I think not. Investing heavily in a 26-year-old designated hitter as the league”s highest-paid player and the face of the franchise, without evidence of his capability to lead a team to the playoffs, seems neither practical nor financially sound.
By committing such a significant financial resource to Soto, I believe the Mets may have made a critical error that could hinder their ability to mount a serious World Series challenge under the current leadership.
