Juan Soto’s contract saga may be over, but the slugger is still stealing the spotlight. Instead of sticking with the Yankees, he jumped ship to their crosstown rivals, the Mets. Word is, the Mets sweetened the deal with perks—like a family suite—something the Yankees wouldn’t match. Then there’s the buzz that his time in Pinstripes wasn’t exactly smooth sailing.

Whispers were that a security guard at the Yankee Stadium had shifted one of Soto’s parents from a designated area of the stadium. Then there was a thing with his driver and his chef. Soto’s men were made to wait outside the stadium in the rain. These incidents may have allegedly created a feeling of dislike towards the Yankees and let Juan Soto make a comment that made American sports commentator Rich Eisen angry. 

Comedian Chris Distefano joined Rich Eisen in-studio to promote his new Hulu ‘Chris Distefano: It’s Just Unfortunate’ stand-up special. The two talked about Juan Soto, and Eisen revealed why he’s so mad. Eisen said, “The comment that Juan Soto said that infuriated me is that he signs with the Mets and okay I understand he might have been disrespected by clearly an angry individual. He said that New York is a Mets town.”

To which Distefano’s answer was “It’s not.” Distefano clarified that he still loves the Mets but also revealed that New York is the opposite of a Mets town, i.e. it’s a Yankees town. The comedian also resonated with Juan Soto’s decision to not sign with the Pinstripes if a security guard at their stadium really did disrespect members of his family. Distefano said that if he was put in Soto’s shoes, he wouldn’t sign with the Yankees either. 

Eisen later mocked Soto over a picture of him in the Mets stadium with his arms open and said, “Look at me. I’m the biggest Met ever. And I’m in Mets town.” The conversation gradually shifted to his body, which Distefano compared to his father as Soto’s belly was protruding out. A lot of people have been noticing that the slugger seems out of shape despite having a vigorous workout regime. 

Has Juan Soto really become unfit and out of shape?

With the massive investment comes an even bigger spotlight, and for newly minted Mets star Juan Soto, it’s already shining bright—and not in the way he might’ve hoped. Sure, the photoshoot at Citi Field wearing those classic Mets pinstripes had all the makings of a great moment. But there’s a glaring detail that caught the eye of every fan: Soto’s midsection. And let’s just say the bump around his stomach wasn’t the look anyone expected from a high-priced athlete stepping into the Big Apple. Fans were quick to notice, and, well, social media did what it does best: roasted him.

Now, let’s not get carried away. Offseason weight gain is a thing, and we all know that professional athletes aren’t immune to the effects of holiday snacks and family feasts. But still, there’s a fine line between a couple of holiday pounds and a gut that’s visibly spilling over in photos. For a guy who’s usually in peak shape, seeing him with a belly that’s, let’s say, “unfamiliar” is a bit concerning. Especially since, just days ago, Soto looked like he was in great shape celebrating his move to the Mets. It’s a tough look for a guy already under immense pressure to perform.

Look, we get it—he’s human. But with that monster contract and the expectations that come with it, every move is under the microscope, and a less-than-ideal photo op like this doesn’t exactly scream “ready for the season.” It’s a bad look for Soto, sure, but even more so for the Mets, who, with all the hype surrounding them, need their big names to be, well, ready to go. Here’s hoping that Soto uses this as motivation to get back in fighting shape!