Juan Soto sends message to frustrated Mets fans amid lost season

The New York Mets ended the first half of a season most members of the team and New York fans would prefer to forget by suffering a three-game home sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox this past weekend, which dropped the Mets to 40-57.

The math and numerous eye tests show that the Mets have little to no chance of saving what seems, during the ongoing MLB All-Star break, to be a lost campaign for the organization. While speaking with reporters on Monday, star outfielder Juan Soto sent a message to Mets fans who may have already decided to tap out on following the team before the next season gets underway.

Juan Soto to Mets fans: Keep believing

“Keep believing," Soto said, per Robert Sanchez of SNY. "We’re gonna turn things around. We have a lot of talent. We have a lot of players that can be elite, so don’t give up on them, we’re gonna turn this back [around]."

While it's understandable that Soto and his teammates would want to do all they can to remain positive, the harsh truth is that there is no real sign the Mets will complete a stunning turnaround over the next couple of months. It is likely a matter of when and not if Mets players who aren't signed via multiyear contracts will be sold to advertised contenders ahead of the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline. Some think fan-favorite Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor could also be had at the right price. 

"I feel like everybody needs a couple days off after a tough stretch," Soto said about the in-season break. "To get the days off and kinda like start over, I think, is gonna be good for the guys." 

Woeful season is "definitely not easy" for Juan Soto, Mets

A noteworthy injury crisis and poor play from expected contributors resulted in Mets owner Steve Cohen firing manager Carlos Mendoza on June 26. Interim manager Andy Green hasn't yet been a savior for the club, and he will likely lose at least a couple of key players via trades over the next several weeks. 

"I’ve been trying my best to win games, to help my team," Soto added during his comments. "It’s definitely not easy. I know how hard my team is working, and I appreciate that they come in day in and day out. They never stop. They keep grinding. They try to find a way every day, so nothing else I can ask for. I’ve been doing my best, and we haven’t gotten to the spot that we want to be, so it feels like a little bit of failure, so I gotta keep going. I gotta keep getting better, and I gotta try harder."

Soto and his teammates will have to forgive Mets fans for assuming his efforts won't mean all that much as it pertains to the club possibly competing for a playoff berth before 2027 at the earliest.