It was supposed to be the coronation of a superstar, not a case study in offensive vanishing acts. The chants, the money, the hype—all perfectly set up for a heroic narrative. Instead, what Mets fans have received is a masterclass in anticlimax. And now, the baseball world isn’t whispering anymore. They’re pointing fingers. At the center of it all? Juan Soto, baseball’s $765 million mystery.

As a great man once said, “With great power comes great responsibility,” feels particularly relevant here. Juan Soto’s monumental contract brought with it towering expectations. Yet, his recent performances have left many questioning the investment and MLB insider Sal Licata has had enough of Soto.

While some fans still want to give Juan Soto some time to settle, WFAN Radio host Sal Licata went off on Soto. In the recent show, he said, “I wanted Juan Soto, the Mets delivered, and every single time this guy has come up in a big spot this year, and there have been plenty, he has failed.” 

Licata further said that he was one of those people who begged and pleaded with the Mets to bring in Soto, but after seeing his recent performances, he has started to rethink his choices. And after the game against the Twins, his feelings just got stronger.

He said, “A despicable 0-5 with three strikeouts, leaving a small village on the base path as the Mets lose a series. You don’t pay $765 million to a guy who gets on base 40 % of the time.” This was one of the worst games Soto has had in a long time. He could not manage to get on base even once in the game and could not even draw a walk.

In the last 5 games, Soto has just 2 hits, and both were home runs, but other than that, he has had nothing to show for it. Licata also compared this with his time at the Yankees, and after the statement Soto gave to the NY Post, the fans are starting to question the priorities of Soto.

But hey, at least Soto’s OPS looks nice on a spreadsheet—too bad it doesn’t show up with runners on base. The Mets didn’t invest three-quarters of a billion dollars for “almost clutch.” This isn’t just a slump; it’s a disappearing act under Broadway lights. Juan Soto wasn’t brought to Queens to be mysterious—he was brought to be magnificent. Right now, he’s playing like the plot twist nobody asked for.

Michael Kay rips Juan Soto for ‘unnecessary’ remarks

When you’re paid $765 million to hit, you’d think adjusting to new surroundings would come with the territory. But for Juan Soto, nostalgia for a past lineup seems to be clouding his focus. Despite a new, hefty paycheck, some remarks have raised eyebrows—not for their truth, but for their timing and tone. In the latest twist, a familiar voice has had enough of the wandering thoughts.

Why would Soto do this? Especially at a time when he is not performing well. We all know about Juan Soto going and talking about the Yankees and how their lineup was very good. While Soto might not have meant it, many fans thought that Soto was snubbing Pete Alonso. One of those people who criticized was Yankees announcer, Michael Kay.

In his podcast, Kay said, “It bothers me that you seem like you have this wanderlust for a guy that you left… It’s also kind of a back-handed slap at Pete Alonso.” Judge may be the best hitter in MLB, but Pete Alonso is no less. Alonso had a better OPS in 2024 when compared to Judge, proving his top-tier caliber and lineup protection. But giving out a statement like that undermines Pete Alonso and his other teammates.

So, while Soto might be reminiscing about the days of Aaron Judge’s protection, he’d be wise to remember he’s now surrounded by a different kind of force in Queens. Pete Alonso isn’t some afterthought in the lineup—he’s an MVP-caliber hitter in his own right. If Soto keeps looking backward, he might just miss the opportunity to make his own mark in a lineup that’s ready to back him up. Time to stop wistfully gazing at the past and start hitting for the future.