While the AL East-leading Yankees have expressed confidence in their group since the departure of Juan Soto to the Mets, they have largely kept the topic of whether they’re “better off” without the right fielder to the media.
Until now. The New York Post’s Jon Heyman included in his Thursday column a note from an anonymous Yankee about their group, sans Soto.
Remember, all these greats started slow with a new team in New York: Jason Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, Carlos Beltrán and Francisco Lindor? And none of them had a $765 million contract.
No disrespect intended (maybe), but a Yankees person opined they’re “definitely” better off, referring to the terrific pivot.
The comment arrives at arguably one of the lowest points in Soto’s career. After landing a record-setting $765 million contract with owner Steve Cohen’s Mets last offseason, Soto has produced below his standards (which is still excellent when compared to mortals in the game). He has a .243 average, .804 OPS (131 OPS+, which would be the lowest in his career for a full season), eight home runs and 21 RBIs.
He has slogged through a 10-game stretch in which he has five hits, none of which have gone for extra bases, and 12 strikeouts. In the middle of that period was a series against the Yankees, his team in 2024, in which Soto seemed more disinterested by each game. The low point crescendoed with a report from NJ Advance Media’s Bob Nightengale that said the Mets were “concerned about Soto’s lack of enthusiasm for his new team.”
If that wasn’t enough, Soto was criticized for his lack of hustle out of the batter’s box on two occasions. On Monday, one incident against the Boston Red Sox prompted differing opinions from Soto and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza, who said he would talk to Soto about it.
The Yankees took two of three games from the Mets last weekend and an 11-3 surge has put them among the league’s best, with a 30-19 record.
Soto, meanwhile, will have more chances to change the narrative against the Los Angeles Dodgers (31-19) this weekend when the Mets (30-20) seek revenge for their NLCS loss.
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