Juan Soto’s Ongoing Happiness Debate in Queens

Juan Soto’s apparent joy in Queens continues to grab attention, making it hard to overlook, as former Mets and Yankees pitchers note.

Adam Otabino, echoing sentiments similar to Michael Kay and Bob Klapisch from NJ.com, suggested there’s “something going on” with Soto, raising a red flag.

The Mets star, who signed an eye-popping 15-year, $765 million deal last December, is now the subject of speculation about his satisfaction with the team. This follows his memorable return to the Bronx, a weekend filled with moments that haven’t exactly hit the mark for a player of his caliber.

“I mean, you need to change the game,” Otabino commented on MLB Network. “To be honest, I think the expectation is to lead the team, especially when you’re earning that much and you’re such a pivotal player. It reminds me of being a kid at Knicks games, watching Michael Jordan.”

He pointed out that fans’ eyes are now on Soto, just as they were on NBA stars. People flock to see him play, and he’s always on their screens.

Otabino, who played for the Yankees in 2019 and 2020 before moving to the Mets from 2022 to 2024, shared his thoughts on Soto’s morale, saying, “I held back on this story for a bit, but there’s definitely something off. His energy just feels different.”

Soto’s happiness—or lack thereof—has been a hot topic, even discussed during a Mets broadcast following their loss to the Red Sox.

After the game, Soto mentioned that he was “working really hard,” but there seems to be a disconnect as manager Carlos Mendoza’s comments weren’t aligned. “We’ll talk to him about that,” Mendoza noted. “Tonight, when someone is trying to help get a pitch, if it’s Juan, he needs to be ready. He thought he had it, but the wind can change everything. In this ballpark, especially with that wall, you have to be quicker out of the box. So, yes, we’ll address that.”