Is Juan Soto an unhappy Met?
Yankeecaster, writer add fuel to the fire. End of Notre Dame-USC football rivalry?
Good morning, all!
Can $765M not buy happiness? If we are to believe stories emanating out of the New York media, that might be the case with Juan Soto. The free agent, who signed the richest contract in the history of American sports with the New York Mets, looks more unhappy than a person unsure whether he’ll be able to pay next month’s rent.
We are no longer at the point where you can label Soto as being “off to a slow start.” Nearly one-third through the season and Soto, before Monday’s game against the Red Sox, is batting .246 with 8 home runs and 20 RBI. At this rate he is heading for a 27 HR, 70 RBI season. In the words of the late broadcaster Red Barber, Soto isn’t exactly “tearin’ up the pea patch.”
Bob Klapish, a long time New York area sportswriter, wrote on nj.com the Mets are concerned about Soto’s demeanor and that he seemed happiest when he reunited with former teammate Aaron Judge and former manager Aaron Boone over the weekend at the Subway Series. The darling of Yankee Stadium fans last year, when he helped lead the Yankees to their first World Series since 2009, Soto was booed out of the “Big Ballpark in the Bronx.” It became so unbearable, he backed out of being miked up during Sunday night’s ESPN broadcast - a player gets $10Gs for talking during one-half inning - after agreeing to do it, then blew off the media after the game.
Klapish wrote:
I don’t claim to be an expert in human behavior, but sometimes all you need is a halfway decent radar to know when someone is unhappy. That’s what I’m seeing and sensing in Mets right fielder Juan Soto after his lost weekend in the Bronx.
Soto went 1-for-10 in the series with four walks. His Mets lost two-of-three to the Yankees.
Enter Yankees television broadcaster and talkshow host Michael Kay, who commented on X:
People in the know say that Juan Soto wanted to be a Yankee. He chose the Yankees. But his family wanted him to be a Met so he chose the Mets.
Throw in the world of social media and the Soto criticism has become even more intense. Stories went viral that he has his own private jet for Mets road trips, stories that were denied, by the way.
Soto has an opt out after five years in the 15-year deal he signed with the Mets. He would be 31 years old at that point with still another 10 years to go on his contract.
In the meantime, there is only one way for Soto to silence his critics; start posting Soto-like numbers. Until he does, the pressure will only get worse.
He might want to talk to Reggie
Soto might want to place a call to Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who knew what it was like, as a free agent, to play in the New York baseball pressure cooker. And he didn’t even have to deal with a crosstown rival. He was at odds with his manager and most teammates.
Anyway, from the where-does-the-time-go department, Jackson turned 79 on Sunday and posted this picture of him with his grand children.
Now that’s a picture of a happy man, far removed from his tumultuous years with the Yankees nearly a half century ago.
Here are some other DAN ON SPORTS top stories for Tuesday, May 20, 2025:
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MLB touts big weekend attendance for “Rivalry Weekend”
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Timberwolves-Thunder play Game 1 of NBA Western Conference finals tonight
Shaq has doubts about legitimacy of NBA draft lottery. He’s not the only one. I always thought it was interesting how the Knicks ended up in a position to pick Patrick Ewing. Just sayin.’
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DAN