Is the New York Mets superstar, Juan Soto, gradually spiraling down? That’s what it looks like at the moment, given the early struggles he has been facing at the moment. And naturally, this made the fans anxious, which also made the analysts and insiders wonder. Now that Soto has surpassed Shohei Ohtani’s enormous $700 million contract, an MLB insider makes a daring guess as to what the Mets will probably do with him.
Currently, the major league features the two players with the highest contracts. Shohei Ohtani signed with the Dodgers for a massive ten-year, $700 million contract, while Juan Soto signed with the Mets for a fifteen-year, $765 million deal. When asked who they would pick to build a team, MLB insiders Rowan Kavner and Deesha Thosar said it would be Shohei Ohtani without a doubt.
Can you guess the reason?
Well. For Rowan Kavner, Ohtani’s deal is one of the best bets in MLB history. Even though Shohei Ohtani hasn’t pitched since August 23, 2023, he is still the team’s MVP and can significantly improve the Dodgers’ offense because he is a two-way player. Not to forget that he has already posted 17 home runs and 31 RBIs, at a .302 average, .397 OBP and a 1.040 OPS.
On the other hand, Ohtani’s consideration comes as an automatic choice for the insider Deesha Thosar. “He’s a better hitter than Soto, and the way his contract is designed allows for more roster flexibility and the freedom to sign more superstars without being saddled by a massive annual average value that impacts other decision-making,” Thosar said. Shohei Ohtani has begun throwing pitches in addition to his hitting prowess, which is a crucial phase in his recovery.
Hopefully, he will be back soon and start pitching at his best. And even if he doesn’t, he will still be a great hitter. However, the same cannot be said for Juan Soto, who’s been struggling constantly. Soto managed only eight home runs with 21 RBIs, that too batting at an average of .236 with a .787 OPS. For a player of his caliber, with a stellar career record of 209 home runs and a .282 average, it will never be sufficient.
As quoted by Deesha Thosar, “Whereas with Soto, even though he’s four years younger than Ohtani, his long-term role with the Mets figures to be at DH, and that might happen sooner than later if his defense becomes a real problem.” She has got a point, though. The Mets have a glaring issue in the form of Soto’s defensive ability. Now that he hasn’t been a very good fielder and the Mets haven’t improved, it might be a sign that the team will move him from the outfield to designated hitter.
Can Juan Soto get back to MVP form?
Well, that’s a difficult question to answer at the moment. When the New York Mets signed Juan Soto, it was more of the World Series-winning aspirations that the Mets have. However, since Soto hasn’t produced the kind of spark the team was hoping for, the excitement has gradually given way to doubts about his value to the team.
Although Juan Soto’s batting average of .156 over the last nine games is concerning, there is no doubting that he was once a fantastic hitter. However, his body language has also not been good. Everything seems to be gone now, including his trademark stance, the famous “Soto Shuffle,” and his at-bat skills. The fact that Soto is no longer adaptable and that his timing has deteriorated is also alarming.
According to the manager, Carlos Mendoza, “Soto looks more active with two strikes.” But this improvement is quite negligible and cannot cover the fact that his power-hitting ability has dropped significantly. Moreover, with a massive contract under his belt, the pressure is mounting and every move of his is getting scrutinized.
However, amid the doubts and uncertainties, former Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia came in support of Juan Soto. “I feel like stars who go to the Mets take about a year to adjust. So I think Soto might be the same way.” Well, it might lighten up the mood of the fans and Soto, but let’s not forget that it’s not just about changing approaches against the pitchers; rather, it is all about gradually adapting to the environment.
So, while Soto’s struggles remain a red flag for the Mets, his track record reflects that a comeback is not far away. As of now, we need to remain calm and patient and see what happens in the upcoming games.
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