The New York Yankees secured bragging rights in this year’s first edition of the Subway Series, winning two out of three games against their crosstown rivals, the New York Mets.
But despite the drama and high-stakes atmosphere, much of the post-series chatter focused less on the Yankees’ win and more on the underwhelming return of star outfielder Juan Soto to Yankee Stadium.
Soto, now donning a Mets uniform, showcased his signature plate discipline by drawing four walks over the three-game set.
However, his production at the plate was otherwise lackluster. He managed just one hit in ten at-bats across the series, culminating in a hitless performance on Sunday – going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in the pivotal series finale.
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay addressed Soto’s return and his on-field demeanor during an extended segment on The Michael Kay Show, pointing to conversations he had with people from both clubs as raising some questions about Soto’s state of mind.
“The one thing that I’m sure everyone wants to talk about is Juan Soto,” Kay began. “So, Juan Soto did not have a great game. He walked three times on Friday. But he ended up getting one hit in ten at-bats. I talked to a lot of people in each game.
“I made it a point to talk to people on the Mets side and really really tried to get some heat by talking to people on the Yankees side on what they were seeing from Soto. I got to Yankee Stadium on Saturday at eight in the morning and I really talked for hours with people. This is what I came up with…
“A lot of people don’t want to hear it. I will preface this by saying, no matter what is going on with Soto now, one hundred out of one hundred times, the Mets have to sign Soto. And one hundred out of one hundred times, Soto is going to be fine. He is one of the great hitters you will ever see.”
Still, what Kay claims to have learned from those conversations paints a picture of a player potentially out of sync with his new surroundings.
“Here’s what I found out. People that I talked to on the Mets side, and they can deny it publicly, because, of course, that’s what they have to do, he is very, very glum around the clubhouse. He does not have a hop in his step. He does not smile much.
“I’m not gonna say he is unhappy. Because how can you be unhappy with a $765 million contract? But money is not a guarantee that you are gonna be comfortable somewhere.”
According to Kay, part of the supposed discontent may stem from the free agency decision itself – one he believes didn’t entirely reflect Soto’s personal preference.
“Why isn’t he happy? It comes down to this. I’ll say it now, and it will be denied. Of course, it has to be denied. But I have talked to people that I respect. He wanted to return to the Yankees. That was his preference,” Kay revealed.
“His family said, ‘You are going to the Mets.’ His family felt very comfortable around Alex and Steve Cohen. And they said, ‘You are going to the Mets.’ And he is a guy that listens to his family. So I think at this point, he is probably a bit down, pouting a bit.
“And then to come into Yankee Stadium with three straight sellout crowds, at a place that was his Field of Dreams… It became his Field of Nightmares over the weekend.”
Soto has yet to speak publicly on any of these claims, and whether his decision was guided more by family influence than personal choice remains speculative. But Kay isn’t the only voice raising eyebrows about Soto’s current disposition.
Veteran baseball reporter Bob Klapisch of NJ Advance Media described Soto as “downright miserable,” echoing some of the same sentiments and adding weight to the growing narrative around the star slugger’s transition to the Mets.
“The man is downright miserable,” Klapsich wrote. “Although Soto said he was ready for the homecoming, he was shell-shocked by the time Sunday night rolled around. Three sell-out crowds broke him.”
Soto’s frustration came to a head on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball, when he backed out of an in-game interview at the last minute after agreeing to be mic’d up in the second inning.
“He’d agreed to be (mic’d) up by ESPN in the second inning, but changed his mind minutes before the game,” Klapsich added. “Most major leaguers jump at the chance for the easy Q-A on a national broadcast.
“They’re designed to make the players look good. The fact that Soto blew off the network was only the first sign of his darkening state of mind.”
After the loss, Soto reportedly left Yankee Stadium without speaking to reporters.
“These are troubling signs for the Mets’ hierarchy,” Klapsich continued. “I’m told they’re concerned about Soto’s lack of enthusiasm for his new team. The only time Soto seemed happy this weekend was while he interacted with Judge, Aaron Boone and Jazz Chisholm during batting practice.
“As I said, I’m no mind reader, but my hunch is that not only does Soto miss the Yankees, the permanence of his decision is sinking in. Soto is staring at another 14-plus years in Flushing.”
Until Soto addresses the matter himself, fans are left to draw conclusions from on-field body language and secondhand accounts.
For now, all eyes remain on how one of baseball’s premier talents adjusts to life in Queens – and whether his return trip to the Bronx was just a blip, or a sign of something deeper.
What are your thoughts on the reports that Soto wanted to stay with the Yankees rather than flip to the Mets???
