The Mets came into 2025 carrying the weight of big expectations, especially after their near-miss at the World Series the year before. For a while, they looked every bit the contender, riding a hot start that had 21 games over .500 by June. But when the season unraveled late and they finished just short of the playoffs, the spotlight inevitably turned to what went wrong. Insiders and beat writers noted the disconnect was less about outright conflict and more about whether the pieces truly fit together. And since Juan Soto arrived as the $765 million centerpiece of the roster, much of that speculation inevitably circled back to him with team president David Stearns wanting to “take a long, hard look at (their) roster.”

Pointing to veterans like Francisco Lindor, Brandon Nimmo, and Starling Marte, Stearns insisted the team had strong voices guiding the locker room. For Soto, leadership looked different. The superstar outfielder described himself as a quiet, supportive presence rather than a constant vocal force. “I always want to help in any way I can,” Soto said last week at Citi Field. “Definitely, I’m not the guy that is going to be on you all the time. But definitely when you have a question or any thoughts that I can help with, I’ll be open to do it. So that’s the kind of player I am.” And we think that’s how he may have handled switching four teams in four seasons. 

As shared by Deesha Thosar of Fox Sports, that approach didn’t go unnoticed. Younger players looked up to him for both his work ethic and his consistency. Ronny Mauricio said, “Just watching him every day, how he works and how he plays every day. I want to be like him. So I spend more time with him.” Even star reliever Edwin Díaz praised Soto’s influence: “As a teammate, we love him. He’s pushing everyone to be better, because every time he’s doing such amazing things on the field, as a player, you want to help him to win.” And while Francisco Lindor thinks that Soto is “away from the world… it’s him, his family, his little group, and then that’s it,” he quickly clarified that Soto’s quiet demeanor is not a detriment.

 “He’s said it multiple times: ‘I’m quiet. I just want to come in. Win. Do my thing.’ That’s just who he is. And that’s perfectly fine. At the end of the day, not everyone needs to be this big personality. We all love him. We respect how he’s gone about it. He makes us better.” And while Lindor, who is more outgoing and friendly, accepted someone opposite to him, Starling Marte took a more hands-on approach to encouraging Soto to engage with the team. 

 “He sometimes feels like he has to be separate from us,” Marte said. “But no, I say, he has to be closer.” Marte made a point of bringing younger players to Soto, encouraging them to ask questions and learn from him. He also involved Soto in long-standing team rituals, like celebrating home runs in front of the dugout camera, and bonding during off-field activities like dominoes or video games on road trips. Marte didn’t stop at gentle nudges.

He often joked with Soto, tapping him on the head or lightly punching him in the arm to break the ice. He also encouraged Soto directly: “Come close to us. Jog with us. Bring more energy or emotion… I want to see you smiling more. It’s something that maybe you feel pressure. But it’s something you can take away by talking to us, laughing with us… No rush. When you feel like you can do it, you do it.” Throughout this, all Marte meant to do was integrate Soto without forcing him to change who he is. 

Soto recognized Marte’s role in helping him acclimate to the Mets. “He helped me big time in the transition to the Mets,” Soto said. “He’s the guy who I’m talking to every day, teaching me, and showing me the Mets way.” It’s been a difficult transition for Soto. Hopefully, next season will be different for the 26-year-old.

Juan Soto otherwise had a productive season with the Mets

After signing a historic 15-year, $765 million contract this past winter, Juan Soto initially got off to a slow start. But over time, he turned things around. In fact, Soto has put together an MVP-caliber season. He had remarkably hit a career-high 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases while leading the league in walks (127) for the fourth time in his career. Lindor also highlighted how Soto’s focus and approach set him apart, especially compared to his own adjustment in his first Mets season.

Even his on-base percentage (.396) was the best in the National League. And that one metric that stands out the most is his stolen bases. Juan Soto swiped a career-high 38 bags and got caught only four times. One major chunk of credit goes to Mets’ first base coach Antoan Richardson.

He’s one of the best in the league at helping his guys get jumps by reading opposing pitchers. Looks like Soto took full advantage of that aid. He was tied for the NL lead in steals with the Pittsburgh Pirates’ legend, Oneil Cruz.

It was one of his most productive offensive seasons in MLB history. But even until now, all that’s been talked about is how the Mets didn’t make the most of Soto’s presence and even wasted his prime season. Yet, for the next season, some changes in the coaching staff are expected. Hopefully, that will change the required dynamics.