Juan Soto Positioned to Shape the 2026 MLB Season.

The New York Mets closed out the 2025 Major League Baseball season in disappointing fashion after appearing poised for a strong playoff run earlier in the year. At midseason, the club looked like a legitimate contender in the National League East, but a late collapse ultimately kept them out of the postseason. In the aftermath, the Mets experienced significant roster turnover. While manager Carlos Mendoza retained his position, several cornerstone players—including Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil—departed the organization. Those exits have placed even greater expectations on outfielder Juan Soto, who signed a historic 15-year, $765 million contract with New York prior to the 2025 season. Soto delivered strong individual production in his first year with the Mets, finishing with a .263 batting average, 43 home runs, and 105 runs batted in. Despite those numbers, team success fell short, and Soto now finds himself at the center of the franchise’s future. MLB.com writer Will Leitch recently included Soto on his list of ten players who are expected to define the 2026 season. Leitch emphasized that Soto exceeded expectations statistically, leading the majors in walks once again and tying for the National League lead in stolen bases with 38. As the roster continues to evolve, Leitch suggested that the Mets are increasingly becoming Soto’s team.

With the organization entering a transitional period, Soto’s leadership and on-field performance will be crucial. The Mets are expected to remain active in free agency or explore potential trades, though optimism among fans has been limited following recent developments. Still, Soto represents the clearest path forward. If he can anchor the lineup and set the tone for a new era of Mets baseball, New York may be able to move past its late-season struggles and reestablish itself as a playoff contender in 2026.