JUAN SOTO JUST GOT KNOCKED DOWN QUITE A FEW PEGS

Steve Cohen and the Mets have singlehandedly rewritten the manual on how to torpedo a baseball franchise—all in the name of beating the Yankees. In their desperation to flex financial muscle, they threw nearly a billion dollars at Juan Soto, a player who, while a monster at the plate, is as one-dimensional as a cardboard cutout in the field.

Veteran scout Tyler Kepner finally said what I’ve been screaming for years: Juan Soto is overrated. Finally, FINALLY, someone with the guts to call it like it is! Sure, the guy can hit, but he's a selfish player, and his defense? A liability. Yet every time I point this out, it’s like talking to a brick wall. But now that Kepner has spoken, maybe—just maybe—people will open their eyes.

Cohen just sabotaged baseball by handing out a deal that guarantees regret. In about three years, when Soto is lumbering around first base or hiding at DH, the Mets will still have ELEVEN years left on that monstrosity of a contract. Hope that family suite was worth it, Cohen.

Kepner didn’t pull punches. He compared Soto to Brian Giles—a fantastic hitter, but hardly a game-changer elsewhere. “Giles was an elite hitter,” Kepner said. “But he wasn’t a game-changer defensively or on the bases. Soto is the same—he’s got a great bat, but he doesn’t offer much outside of that.” Sound familiar? That’s because I’ve been saying it before the Yankees even signed him!

Kepner threw in a small caveat, saying, “He could always improve his defense as he matures,” but let’s be real—why would he? That contract is a golden ticket to complacency. We’ve seen it before: guys secure the bag and suddenly, the hustle disappears. Soto got paid. He doesn’t need to run, dive, or put in extra effort. In a couple of years, when he starts half-jogging to first, the Mets will be stuck paying top dollar for a glorified DH.

Essentially Sports says: “Soto is just getting started. At just 26, for him, the sky is the limit. After leading the AL in runs and hitting 41 home runs, Soto has the potential to do even more. He could challenge for the lead in RBIs, runs, and homers, all while carrying the Mets to an improved record.”

That’s all well and good for now, but let’s fast-forward a few years. When Soto’s legs are gone, when he’s a statue in the outfield, when his contract has become an anchor weighing the Mets down—then what? He’ll ask to play DH, and of course, the Mets will cave. They’ve given him the keys to the kingdom. No one sees it yet, but they will.

Cohen has wrecked the Mets. Sure, they might get some short-term gains, but in the long run? Disaster. Cohen fought so hard to outbid the Yankees. I hope it was worth it. Mets fans will be stuck watching a declining player eat up payroll. The Yankees dodged a bullet.

Don’t take my word for it—listen to Johnny Damon. Speaking to DJ Siddiqi of SportsCasting.com, Damon said: “He’s an amazing player. When the Yankees couldn’t get Juan Soto, they were able to go out and get a number of All-Stars where the team may actually be better now. You have more quality players around.”

Exactly. One player doesn’t guarantee a championship. If it did, the Yankees would have won it all in 2024. Soto was phenomenal in the postseason—.327 average, 16 hits, 4 home runs, 9 RBIs, 12 runs in 14 games. But guess what? No ring.

So, enjoy it while it lasts, Stevie. The warning signs are there. When Soto starts misplaying fly balls, when he’s a liability on the bases, when he’s clogging up payroll with a contract that still has a decade left—then we’ll all be chanting: BRI-AN GI-LES! clap clap, clap clap clap!