Juan Soto makes big promise to Mets fans ahead of first season on massive contract

After months filled with hype and speculation about why he left the New York Yankees in free agency, All-Star outfielder Juan Soto will make his official New York Mets debut during Thursday's Opening Day matchup at the Houston Astros.

Soto offered one big promise to Mets fans as spring training wrapped up. 

"The best is coming," a confident Soto told Tim Healey of Newsday. "I’m in the middle of my prime. I think that’s one of the things I told them, too. The best is coming. We have a long way to go, but I feel like the best Juan Soto has to come in the next couple of years, so I want to be at a place where we can have a really good group surrounding me and try to get the best out of it."

Mets owner Steve Cohen clearly agrees, as he gave Soto a 15-year, $765M contract that could exceed $800M total. Cohen's faith is understandable considering Soto turned just 26 years old this past October, was the Yankees' most valuable player last spring as captain Aaron Judge battled through a bit of a slump and later propelled the Bronx Bombers to a World Series berth with a dramatic American League Championship Series home run. 

"I can’t even imagine," Soto said about what he could be at the peak of his baseball powers. "I’m going to try to be the best the next couple of years before I start aging."

Per ESPN stats, Soto finished the 2024 season fourth in MLB with 41 home runs, tied for sixth with 109 RBI, second with 129 walks and third with a .989 OPS. While many within the baseball community view Soto as a generational talent, questions previously emerged regarding his ability to serve as a leader for a team that already has an unnamed captain in shortstop Francisco Lindor.

"You’ve got to get to know the guys and get to know the staff and how things work over here," Soto recently said about eventually making his voice heard among his new teammates, as shared by Abbey Mastracco of the New York Daily News. "You’re just not going to come in and be like, 'Oh, I want things done this way.' No, you’ve got to get used to what they’ve been doing and what has been working for them, and how they’ve been successful in the past. So I think it takes a little bit — it takes a while — to sit down and read the mindsets and the team."

As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook listed Soto second among the betting favorites at +550 odds to win the National League MVP Award for the upcoming campaign. That same outlet had the 2025 Mets at -250 odds to make the playoffs. 

"Mets fans are going to get Juan Soto," he added. "He’s happy every day. I’m going to try to have my best smile out there and try to play the best way I can to give 100% every day."