Paul Articulates - Don't expect the same Soto

The New York Mets have rebuilt their team for the 2026 season, so it is natural that most of the things you read about the team deal with the transformation, the players that left, the players that were added, and the speculation about those yet to come aboard.   Not too much has been said about those that remain on the squad, particularly those who we all assume will perform to the levels expected based upon history.

Juan Soto is one of those players who has not been discussed much despite his superstar status and his dominance of last year’s conversation.  It is about time we said a few things about Soto and the season in front of him.

It is easy to assume that he will just be great because he has had so many seasons of excellent performance.  His last two seasons were spent performing before the extensive New York media, so it seems like we know everything about him: his talent, his tendencies, his statistics.  

It is also bad to assume that the 2026 version of Juan Soto will be the same as the 2018-2025 versions of Juan Soto.  Why?  Because beneath his calm, unflappable demeanor lies a competitor who always wants to be better.  Last year’s Soto is not good enough in his thinking.  He was not the MVP; did not win a championship; and did not win any of the triple crown batting titles.  When you are considered “one of the best”, you want to be the best of the best.  He has plenty of competition to motivate him, whether it is Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Bryce Harper, or several other top stars.  

Last year, Soto focused his improvement plan on his base running ability and transformed himself from a player that averaged 8 stolen bases per year to one who nabbed 38 bases, almost becoming the seventh MLB player ever to have a 40-40 season.

There is no doubt that he has been working in the off-season to refine his skills to become a better player in 2026.  My opinion: the guy you thought would hit .280, hit 40 homers, and steal 30-something bases is going to show up this year with another leap forward in his skillset.  

My guess is that he will show the world that he can be a better defender.  The biggest criticism he has faced in the last two years was that he was at best an average defender in right field.  He didn’t seem to get a great jump on balls; was far to tentative going after balls over his head; and rarely had an all-out horizontal dive to snare a sinking line drive.  Some of this caution is well-placed.  You don’t want to see a superstar’s name on the IL.  One can name plenty of outfielders, including current center fielder Luis Robert Jr. who have paid the price of lost games to over-enthusiastic pursuit of balls in the gap.

I don’t expect to see Soto crash into a wall or a fellow ball-player this season.  However, I expect to see him get much better jumps on batted balls, and to pursue those balls further now that he is more comfortable with the geometry of Citi Field.  I also expect to see him wow the fans with his power arm, gunning down runners at third and home.  For months now we have discussed the new focus on run prevention.  It is at the top of everyone’s mind in the Mets organization.  Soto, as a star and expected team leader, will take this very seriously and set the example for everyone to follow. 

I am not predicting a gold glove for Juan Soto this year.  I am not predicting a stolen base title.  I am not predicting a batting championship or a triple crown.  But I do think that we will see another big step in the evolution of Juan Soto as one of the most talented players in his generation.  This will help the Mets be a better version of themselves, which should make them much more competitive in the National League than they were last year.

Enjoy the show!