ARLINGTON, Texas — Juan Soto, the New York Mets’ star outfielder, acknowledged his frustration following another season that fell short of postseason contention despite his historic contract and personal success at the plate. Soto, who signed the largest deal in North American professional sports history two winters ago, has yet to see his team reach the playoffs in his first two seasons with New York.
Speaking before the Mets’ 3-1 loss to the Texas Rangers on Thursday, Soto took responsibility for the team’s struggles. “There is nothing I can do other than blame myself,” he said. “I have got to be better. I have got to be at the level to take us forward.”
Statistically, Soto delivered solid performance metrics, entering Thursday’s play with a .920 OPS, just slightly below his previous season’s mark. He also hit 27 home runs, a figure consistent with his early career season totals but below the expectations that accompanied his record $765 million, 15-year contract. Injuries played a role, as a strained calf limited him to 108 games, raising concerns about his ability to stay healthy throughout the campaign.
Despite his personal milestones, the Mets concluded the season well short of the playoffs, a disappointing outcome given owner Steve Cohen’s projections of World Series contention during Soto’s contract signing. The outfielder maintained that winning the Most Valuable Player award was never his primary goal but reiterated his commitment to team success. “My main goal was always to be healthy and help the team as much as I can,” he said, noting that Pete Crow-Armstrong of the Chicago Cubs appears poised to capture this year’s NL MVP honors.
Looking ahead, Soto expressed optimism about the Mets’ direction, highlighting a young core including Carson Benge, AJ Ewing, Nolan McLean, and Christian Scott. “We have a young core, and we have got to maintain that young core and encourage them the right way,” he said. “The first and second years are probably the toughest ones of your career, so what they’re doing I think is very special.”
Soto also encouraged the organization to remain aggressive in the offseason, particularly in free agency. When asked about potential addition of top pitching prospect Tarik Skubal, who is also represented by agent Scott Boras, Soto advocated for strengthening the roster. “We should go and get as much as we can,” he said. “We need as much help as we can get. It was a real tough year for us, so I think we have got to go out there and grab as much as we can.”
The transition to left field this season went smoothly for Soto after two years in right field, but his overall assessment of the year was clear. “We fell a little short,” he said. “You see where the team is at, and it wasn’t enough to get the team where we wanted. Definitely, I am not happy with where my numbers are ending up.”