“There’s daggers in men’s smiles,” Shakespeare once wrote. Juan Soto‘s smile, however, seems to be hiding more than just daggers.
Juan Soto, the star outfielder of the New York Mets, might be testing Mets fans’ patience once again. SNY’s Andy Martino reports that Soto “misses” the Yankees and that last year’s Bronx time was a “great learning experience.” The revelation follows hard on the heels of his infamous remark “New York is a Mets town,” which sparked a fan fight between the crosstown rivals.
And what adds gasoline to that fire?
It is Soto’s recent interview where he thanked the Yankees and their fans, “I want to say thank you to them… they really show me all the love… they really have a spot in my heart.” Further, he confessed that leaving is tough, “It’s hard… to leave all the love that they gave me.” While some Mets fans might welcome his candour, others could view it as disloyalty, or at least a sign that he doesn’t really get the Mets.
Andy Martino has heard that Juan Soto “misses” the Yankees, saying his time in the Bronx last year was a great learning experience. pic.twitter.com/mqHp08yefy
— Rod (@theyankscenter) March 4, 2025
And it doesn’t end with just that interview. This came up for discussion again when in a viral video shot in his home country, the Dominican player is shown celebrating with friends and family while a catchy tune plays in the background. The lyrics of a famous merengue song declare, “El Bronx, Yankee, que viva New York.”
But in the middle of the song, Soto seems to yell “Los Mets” instead of “Yankee,” swapping out the name of his old team for his new one.
This casual gesture has reopened the question of Soto’s allegiance and his feelings towards both New York teams. Yankee fans, still sore about losing Soto, have taken the video as evidence of him missing the Bronx.
And this, on the other hand, understandably irks Mets fans. His claim that New York is a “Mets town” is apparently at odds with what he did.
Soto’s “Mets Town” Comment and its aftermath
When Soto referred to New York as “Mets town” at his introductory press conference on December 12, 2024, Yankee fans were outraged and sports pundits criticized the remark. As Soto put it, “New York has been a Mets town for a long time. I think we just gotta bring it to the top. Championships are gonna tell you if it’s a Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day.”
He further declared that he signed with the Mets because they are the team with the greatest winning potential.
This bravado from the player with the biggest contract in baseball history was interpreted as a slap to the Yankees and their legacy.
Sports commentator Rich Eisen, for instance, reacted, “What is he talking about? Juan, I’ve been in New York City for 55 years. Man, get out of here. Get out of here with your words. It’s like saying Los Angeles is a Clippers town. Get out of here. Is it a Mets city? Yeah, in your head. He only lived the Yankee life for a year.”
And Dellin Betances, a former pitcher for the Mets and Yankees, commented, “It is always a Yankees town. I mean, it’s always going to be a Yankees town. That’s the way I feel. I don’t know what he was trying to say by that.”
Soto’s ‘Mets town’ assertion might seem a bit hasty, given the Yankees’ 27 World Series rings. But why shouldn’t he be confident? He’s having a sensational in spring training. A .300 average, 2 homers, 4 RBIs, 1.264 OPS, and an attitude that says, ‘I’m here to win’. Even the most cynical Mets fan can’t ignore this sort of beginning. True, the Yankees have a historical legacy in their corner, but Soto is infusing Queens with a new spirit.
There’s no denying that Soto’s remarks have further fuelled the animosity between the two teams, and this controversy sheds light on the fierce rivalry between the Yankees and Mets. And no matter what, Soto is expected to fulfill his $765 million value by winning a title for Queens. That would secure him a place in Mets lore and perhaps even upend the New York baseball power dynamic.
But do you think Soto still has a soft corner for the Yanks?
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