Juan Soto was supposed to be the guy. The $765 million man. The generational talent who brought his championship pedigree, plate discipline, and signature swagger across town to Citi Field. But as the calendar inches toward Memorial Day, something’s off — and the buzz is getting louder.
Boos in the Bronx, Doubts in Queens
Over the weekend, Soto returned to Yankee Stadium — his old stomping grounds — and the results were hard to ignore. Not just the numbers, which were rough enough (1-for-10, zero RBI, four walks), but the optics.
Mets fans noticed, Yankees fans noticed, and the national media definitely noticed. The superstar who was supposed to be lighting up the city looked distant, flat, and almost disinterested.
Then came Bob Klapisch’s report in NJ Advance Media, revealing that it’s not just talk radio stirring the pot. According to Klapisch, members of the Mets’ own front office are concerned about Soto’s apparent lack of enthusiasm since arriving in Queens. The smile? Rare. The energy? Low. The body language? Less “Soto Shuffle,” more slow shuffle.
At least one insider noted that the happiest he looked all weekend was when he was chatting it up with Aaron Judge, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Aaron Boone — all Yankees and rivals of his current team.
Pressure, Performance, and the Price Tag
Of course, there’s a baseball angle here, too. Soto’s numbers aren’t catastrophic, but they’re a far cry from “$800 million centerpiece.” Through 46 games, he’s slashing .246/.379/.443 with eight home runs and 20 RBI. Not terrible — but for someone who’s supposed to anchor an offense, that OPS north of .800 comes with caveats.
Take the 1-for-20 slump with runners in scoring position. Or the fact that he reportedly bailed on an ESPN “Sunday Night Baseball” mic’d-up segment minutes before first pitch, citing exhaustion with media questions about his decision to sign with the Mets over the Yankees. You can’t blame a guy for wanting space, but silence can get loud, especially in New York.
And speaking of silence, Soto reportedly avoided reporters entirely after the Mets’ 8–2 loss on Sunday. That same game, Klapisch noted, showcased a “vanished swag,” a new layer of disengagement, and a physical change — “a few pounds around the middle.” Maybe it’s a slump. Maybe it’s pressure. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s regret.
Inside the Clubhouse: Hope or Red Flags?
To be fair, not everyone in the Mets organization is ringing the alarm. According to Will Sammon of The Athletic, Soto’s teammates don’t see a guy sulking — they see someone frustrated with himself. They think he wants to thrive here and is just navigating the growing pains of massive expectations and a high-profile transition.
And per Andy Martino of SNY, veteran Starling Marte has played a crucial role in Soto’s acclimation. The two go way back, and Marte’s presence has reportedly helped loosen up the former Yankee slugger. Mets staff have noticed Soto “smiling more of late” and reconnecting with the animated, theatrical side of his game that fans fell in love with in the first place.
Still, vibes can only do so much. The production and the presence have to follow.
A Crucial Crossroads
It’s only May. Juan Soto’s contract runs through 2039. There’s time. But this is New York, where time doesn’t run slow — it accelerates. If Soto doesn’t flip the narrative soon, the whispers will turn into full-blown sirens. The boos will grow louder. And the storyline will stop being about struggles and start being about fit.
The Mets paid for a superstar. Right now, they have a very good player who looks like he’s carrying the weight of a city and making a decision that might not feel quite right.
The good news? One hot week can flip it all. The bad news? One more cold one might make the questions even harder to ignore.
