PORT ST. LUCIE — Love him or detest him, you possibly can’t miss Juan Soto’s at-bats.
You’ll be able to’t miss the theatrics of his at-bats, the notorious “Soto Shuffle” that impressed a music, and the gamebreaking dwelling runs.
“It’s good for us,” mentioned Mets nearer Edwin Diaz. “Because we don’t have to face him anymore.”
That looks as if an understatement.
Soto has managed to change into each liked and loathed in New York Metropolis. The precise fielder shocked the world when he left the Yankees for the Mets in December, signing a 15-year, $765 million contract to change into the richest participant within the sport.
His determination modified baseball in a metropolis the place the game has a wealthy historical past, with a lot of it authored by the Yankees. From Ruth, to Gehrig, to Mantle, to the dynasty days and the Core 4, the Yankees constructed a model acknowledged world wide and a tradition revered all through skilled sports activities.
Soto appeared to suit neatly into all of that. Traded to the Bronx in his prime at 25, the Dominican was already some of the revered hitters within the sport, if not essentially the most revered, and a World Collection champ. A profession 36.4 WAR participant, the accolades are quite a few. When Soto helped the Yankees return to the World Collection for the primary time since 2009, many thought he would wish to return to complete what he began.
However the Mets, underneath the path of householders Steve and Alex Cohen, are rewriting their legacy. Cohen’s aggressive spending and investments into a number of sides of the membership have attracted a number of the prime gamers within the sport. It was solely a matter of time earlier than they landed one of many league’s premier gamers.
Soto lends them credibility, alongside along with his energy bat.
“I think we’ve moved things along a lot, but I always believe in innovating,” Cohen throughout his spring coaching press convention. “I’m always trying to push it further, and that’s going to be the philosophy of the team. I mean, we’re going to try to make all aspects of the club the infrastructure elite. Those are my goals…
“And I tend to have high goals.”
The hedge fund billionaire has little endurance for failure. Compelled to study some classes the arduous method throughout his first few years of possession, Cohen noticed the progress he needed to see final 12 months, when the Mets reached Recreation 6 of the NLCS. Now that he’s seen progress, the expectations have been raised.
Soto was all the time a part of Cohen’s plan. It was a part of his gross sales pitch to president of baseball operations David Stearns, and a part of his bigger plan to show the Mets into one thing far higher than only a plucky NL underdog squad. The timing of Soto changing into a free agent couldn’t have labored out higher.
The membership is lastly secure. Their younger gamers obtained invaluable expertise taking part in in significant video games final fall and an proprietor nonetheless prepared to spend what it takes to win. The Mets’ projected payroll is $332 million, and Cohen has made it recognized that he’s comfy rising that quantity if it will get the staff nearer to a championship. The pitching and hitting labs are up and working in Port St. Lucie.
The playoffs galvanized the Mets final 12 months, bringing the staff nearer than ever. With most of the identical gamers returning, the staff is excessive on management and chemistry, intangibles that cash can’t purchase.
“You see Soto joking around with everyone. You see a guy like Clay Holmes, who’s new to the team and interacting and just feeling like they’ve been a part of this group for a long time,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza. “And that’s good to see. [It’s a] credit to the guys that we already have.”
Soto noticed this instantly. How might he not?
The Yankees might need been the New York staff taking part in within the World Collection, however even then, they have been overshadowed by the Mets. There have been the silver medal jokes after the Los Angeles Dodgers eradicated the Yankees in 5 video games, one fewer than it took for them to get rid of the Mets within the NLCS. There was Grimace and OMG, with Jose Iglesias singing his summer time hit at Citi Discipline with your complete staff dancing behind him.
To Soto, a close-knit staff is the mark of a profitable staff, and one thing that has helped ease his transition.
“How they treat each other, and how they go about their business together, as a team and as a group, because it’s a team sport,” Soto mentioned. “How do they stick together, how they [bring] everything together? I think that’s one of the biggest things that you look at.”
The 2025 Mets are constructed on the depth of their lineup. Soto will hit second behind Francisco Lindor, who’s coming off an MVP-caliber season. Pete Alonso will present safety within the third spot. Mark Vientos earned a shot at hitting within the 4 spot after hitting 27 homers in a breakout 2024 marketing campaign. Brandon Nimmo is penciled in to hit fifth, a left-handed hitter breaking apart the righties.
Well being will make a distinction, however there’s a probability the Mets might have a number of 30-homer hitters this season.
Proper-hander Kodai Senga is wholesome once more. He may not be comfy with the title of an ace simply but, but when he pitches the best way he did in 2023 when he had a sub 3.00 ERA in 29 begins, he’ll have to just accept it. Left-handers Sean Manaea and David Peterson have been influential in getting the Mets to the postseason final 12 months, after which getting them deep in it as properly. Behind them is right-hander Clay Holmes, a former Yankees nearer the Mets are changing to a starter.
Diaz is feeling assured and wholesome after two tough seasons. Ryne Stanek brings velocity and aggressive hearth because the setup man, and left-hander A.J. Minter high-leverage expertise and playoff expertise after spending the whole thing of his eight-year profession with the Atlanta Braves.
There are some stable pitching items, however naturally, there are questions. Manaea is beginning the season on the injured checklist, as is right-hander Frankie Montas. Holmes hasn’t began a sport since 2018. Relievers Reed Garrett and Dedniel Nuñez got here out of nowhere final season, however will they fall again to earth?
The largest query is perhaps whether or not or not the Mets can deal with prosperity, one thing they’ve did not do up to now. They couldn’t in 2023 after they did not observe up on a 101-win season. Final 12 months, they proved doubters flawed at each flip, however now, the doubters are quiet and Mets have a goal on their backs.
Nonetheless, with Soto on their aspect, prosperity is inherent. It’s the season of Soto, with the Mets lastly poised to cement their standing as contenders.
