If one player is dominating the headlines as we barrel toward Opening Day 2025, it’s Juan Soto. And that’s for good reason. The All-Star outfielder made waves this offseason by jumping boroughs in one of the most high-profile moves in recent memory.
From pinstripes to the blue and orange, Soto didn’t just change teams—he reignited one of the most intense rivalries in Major League Baseball.
Soto Faces the Bronx with Open Eyes
The Yankees are the elephant in the room here. Or, more specifically, how Yankees fans are going to treat their former superstar now that he’s suiting up for the Mets. Spoiler alert—it’s not going to be pretty. Soto knows it. He’s already bracing for the backlash.
“You know Yankees fans—they can surprise you with anything,” he said after a spring game. “I’m expecting the worst when I face them in the regular season.” And with that one line, the slugger acknowledged what everyone else was already thinking: this rivalry just went nuclear.
The reactions during Monday’s spring training matchup gave us a small taste of what’s coming. Boos? Check. Glares from fans who once worshipped him? Double check. But if Soto was rattled, he didn’t show it.
He still took time to chat with his former teammates postgame, calling the reunion “a different feeling.” That’s a level of maturity you don’t always see in a 26-year-old superstar.
A New Chapter, But Not a Cold Goodbye
Soto hasn’t fully cut ties with the Bronx despite the uniform change. Not emotionally, anyway. The Yankees have dealt with their fair share of injury trouble this spring and Soto’s kept tabs.
“Even though they’re not my teammates anymore, I still want to know that they’re okay,” he said. That’s not just locker room talk—that’s real respect.
It adds another layer to this story. Because while fans might be ready to paint him as the villain, he’s not playing that part. He’s just a guy who made a career decision—and still cares about the guys he left behind.
Mets Eye the Prize, and Soto’s All-In
Now, shift your focus to Queens because that’s where Soto’s attention is locked. While spring training handed the Mets a few curveballs—injuries, lineup shuffles, you name it—Soto says this team’s got the goods to chase a title.
“I think we’re in a really good spot,” he said. “We definitely had to go through some adversity in spring training, dealing with some injuries and stuff like that, but I think we’re going to be fine.”
The translation is Soto’s not just here for the rivalry. He’s here for the ring. So circle the dates on your calendar—those Yankees-Mets games are going to be must-watch television. But don’t get it twisted: Juan Soto isn’t looking for drama. He’s looking for wins. And with this Mets team behind him, he just might get plenty.
