Juan Soto sparks controversy with honest take on Yankees’ Aaron Judge, Mets’ lineup protection

After a surprising and successful run to the National League Championship Series in 2024, the New York Mets didn’t settle during the offseason. They strengthened their roster by re-signing cornerstone slugger Pete Alonso and left-hander Sean Manaea. Just a few games into his record-breaking $765 million deal, however, Juan Soto has ignited controversy with remarks referencing his former team, the New York Yankees, and starAaron Judge.

Amid what has been a slower-than-expected start to the season by his standards, Soto spoke with Mike Puma of the New York Post, suggesting that he is being pitched differently with the Mets compared to his experience hitting in the Yankees’ lineup alongside Judge.

“It’s definitely different,” Juan Soto said. “I had the best hitter in baseball hitting behind me. I was getting more attacked and more pitches in the strike zone, less intentional walks and things like that. I was pitched differently last year.”

The remark appeared, to some, as a slight toward Alonso and the rest of the Mets’ current lineup. Jon Heyman, Puma’s colleague at the Post, was among those who publicly criticized Soto’s comments.

“There’s probably some validity to what Soto told Puma about things being ‘different’ — meaning more difficult — without the great Aaron Judge’s lineup protection. But this isn’t the time for that,” Heyman wrote. “There may never be a good time for that. But this definitely is not it. When Soto made the comments, before finally homering in Monday’s 5–1 win in Minnesota, he was 15 games into a 15-year commitment.”

Every word of Soto under the microscope

Following the signing of the most lucrative contract in sports history, every at-bat and nearly every public comment Soto makes will be heavily scrutinized by both fans and media. In this context, it may be in his best interest to steer clear of comparisons between his new environment and his previous one—particularly during the early stages of his tenure with the Mets.

An excess of candor from Soto?

While Soto’s comments may have been an honest reflection of the challenges he’s currently facing, they inevitably opened the door to debate and interpretations that cast doubt on his confidence in his current teammates. In a media landscape as intense as New York’s, remarks involving rival franchises or perceived criticisms carry added weight.

As the MLB season progresses, Soto will aim to let his play on the field shift the conversation, leaving this initial controversy behind as he focuses on helping the Mets contend for another deep postseason run.