The New York rivalry always carries extra weight, as we saw on Sunday, July 6. That day, there was an extra layer to it. The Yankees had finally broken out of a losing skid, defeating the Mets in a tight 6-4 game. And, the Mets’ star Juan Soto was feeling the heat. He went hitless in four at-bats against his old team. The box score reported two strikeouts next to his name as well. Also in the 7th inning, a diving catch by Cody Bellinger turned Soto’s liner into a double play. The difficult day set the stage for a post-game comment which ignited a firestorm.

After the loss, a reporter asked Soto a straightforward question: Would he have liked to have been named an All-Star? But instead of a standard reply, Soto offered blunt honesty. “What do you think?” he began. “I think it’s a lot of money on the table if I make it.” The video was shared by the SNY network on social media. Soto’s words — indicating a $100,000 contract bonus —caught all the spotlight. It was an honest admission.

Soto’s absence from the All-Star roster has already been quite a topic. His four-year run of selections is officially over. He watched on as the NL named its outfielders. Starters included Ronald Acuña Jr, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker, leaving the Mets’ most prominent star out.

After he was named the NL Player of the Month for June, the snub must have been painful for Soto. The statistics certainly made a powerful case for his inclusion. The 26-year-old has posted an impressive .263/.396/.508 slash line this season, with 21 home runs and a WAR of 3.7. Considering that Miami’s only player in the All-Star, Kyle Stowers, has a WAR of 1.7, Soto’s snub is perhaps a direct product of the rule that mandates every team has a representative.

Before his controversial comment, Soto simply told reporters, “Sometimes you’re gonna make it and sometimes you don’t… I’ve just got to be better.” But in public opinion, numbers often take a backseat to perception. As Soto made that comment, the conversation quickly shifted from on-field merit to off-field money.

Fans audit Soto’s $765 million deal

The reaction to Soto’s comment was immediate and very strong. A fan put it best when they asked, “765M not enough for him?” This question hit the nail on the head. Soto’s 15-year, $765 million contract guarantees him $51 million a year with no deferred money. That $100,000 All-Star bonus he brought up is only a minimal fraction of his annual salary. So, it fueled the narrative that for the team’s highest-paid player, even a mountain of cash isn’t enough. But hey, Soto’s comment was tongue-in-cheek.

Other rival fans took a different route, taking a jab at the Mets supporters who welcomed their new star with open arms. “Mets fans must love this money hungry greed. Atleast keep it to yourself lol,” read a comment. Well, the excitement around Soto’s arrival was tremendous. By April 2025, Citi Field drew 36,705 fans per game on average, a stunning increase from the prior year. Soto’s home debut was akin to a playoff game; the roar of the crowd was deafening as he received a standing ovation. To hear him talk about an All-Star bonus now might disappoint some.

Of course, a player’s salary is always tied to his performance. Some fans think Soto isn’t living up to the billing anyway. “Too bad he sucks and is a waste of uncle steves money boo hoo,” a netizen commented. Well, Soto had a notable dip in May, which saw him hit under .230. Also, his defense has been an issue all season. Advanced stats have him at -10 Outs Above Average, which puts him among the league’s worst defensive outfielders. His 0 for 4-performance against the Yankees was just the latest example. But he bounced back with his hitting in June and was named NL player of the month, slashing .322/.474/.722 with 11 home runs and 20 RBIs.

The controversy also touched a deeper nerve: player loyalty. “Well, at least now we know for certain he couldn’t care less about what team he plays for,” one more X user added. When he came back to the Bronx as a Met, Soto was booed. To that, he gave a cool, detached response, “I was ready for it.” Now, his All-Star response while earning a fortune with the Mets has led some of the fans to believe that Soto isn’t emotionally connected to the teams he plays for. But is that fair to say?

Well, not everyone was sharpening their pitchforks. In a media landscape filled with carefully crafted PR statements, some found Soto’s honesty refreshing. “Love the blunt answer lol, he doesn’t give AF. Also, stupid question. Who wouldn’t wanna be an all-star lol,” a fan chimed in, highlighting the other side of the coin. The ‘Childish Bambino’ has a history of giving straightforward answers.

When asked why he chose the Mets previously, he bluntly talked about their ability to win and build a “dynasty.” So, he doesn’t hide behind clichés anyway. Some of the fans know that even with his All-Star response, Soto wasn’t being greedy; he was just being real.