Juan Soto’s arrival in Queens this offseason came with massive expectations—and an even bigger contract. His 15-year, $765 million deal made headlines across the baseball world and immediately put a spotlight on his every at-bat. Yet, as the 2025 MLB season got underway, the once-impenetrable image of Soto as an instant-impact superstar has been challenged. His early-season numbers have failed to match the superstar price tag, and critics—especially those donning Yankees gear—have been quick to call the Mets’ decision into question.
But here’s the twist: this so-called “problem” might actually be one of the best things that could’ve happened to the Mets.
Despite Soto’s slow start, the Mets have found themselves sitting atop the NL East. Pete Alonso is playing like the MVP frontrunner, tearing the cover off the ball and leading the league in multiple offensive categories. Francisco Lindor has continued to rake with consistent contact, while unlikely contributors like Luis Torrens and Luisangel Acuña have added depth and balance throughout the lineup. The Mets’ offense is humming—even without peak Juan Soto.
Meanwhile, a unit that was once expected to be the team’s biggest liability has become a surprising strength: the pitching staff. Kodai Senga has emerged as a legitimate ace, carving up hitters with a microscopic ERA, while the bullpen—dubbed by fans as “The Law Firm of Stanek, Kranick, and Garrett”—has turned in dominant middle-inning work to bridge the gap to closer Edwin Díaz, who has looked sharp closing out tight games. And this is all without contributions from injured reinforcements like Jeff McNeil, Francisco Álvarez, and Sean Manaea, who are expected to return soon.
As for Soto, Mets fans don’t have to look far into the past for a reminder of what’s coming. After being traded to the Padres in 2022, Soto also started off slowly in his new digs, posting a .175 average over his first 19 games. But once he got acclimated, he exploded—finishing with a .279 average, a .411 OBP, and a top-six finish in NL MVP voting. That blueprint could very well repeat itself in Queens. And judging by his recent surge—five hits and five RBIs in a single series against the Cardinals—the tide may already be turning.
Most importantly, the Mets aren’t just surviving Soto’s slump—they’re thriving despite it. With the Braves stumbling to a shockingly poor start, the Marlins and Nationals still finding their footing, and the Phillies unable to stay consistent, the NL East has become the Mets’ playground. And if New York can lead the division without even tapping into their most expensive weapon, what happens when Soto finally catches fire?
The truth is, Soto’s slow start has revealed something invaluable: this Mets team is built to win, with or without its superstar playing at full strength. And when he does return to form—as history suggests he will—the rest of the league better be on notice. Because the Mets aren’t just good now. They have the pieces to be terrifying later.
