People's Juan Soto expectations are all out of whack: David Ortiz
Access the Mets beat like never before
Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free
Juan Soto's $765 million contract has given people the wrong impression of the type of player he is, one Hall of Famer says.
David Ortiz, speaking on the radio in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday, said the expectations around Soto have been too high and don't line up with the type of player he is.
Advertisement
The former Red Sox designated hitter believes some people think Soto should have stats that line up with MLB's all-time home run leader.
But Ortiz sees things differently.
'People think Juan Soto was paid to do what Barry Bonds did. No, people. Soto was paid to do what he always does: hit 30 homers, push 90-100 runs across, hit .280-.290, and have a great on-base percentage,' Ortiz said, as translated from Spanish.
3 Juan Soto reacts after he strikes out swinging during the fifth inning at Citi Field on May 28, 2025.
JASON SZENES/NY POST
Advertisement
'The problem is that Juan Soto entered free agency at the perfect time with the perfect agent, you know what I mean? So since everyone wants to be involved in the negotiations for a player of his caliber, and because of the Mets' owner, who said, 'The only way he doesn't play for me is if he goes somewhere else for less money.' He won with that argument alone. We're not talking about the best player in the big leagues nor the most complete. He's a great player who at the end of the season will have the numbers he consistently has.'
3 Former MLB player David Ortiz 'Big Papi' attends a mass in honour of the people who died after a roof collapse at the Jet Set nightclub, in Haina, Dominican Republic April 13, 2025.
REUTERS
Soto's Baseball Savant page looks like one would expect with gaudy peripherals, but his in-game numbers have been far from Soto-like.
Advertisement
CHECK OUT THE LATEST MLB STANDINGS AND METS STATS
After an 0-for-4 Wednesday afternoon during a Mets 9-4 loss at Citi Field to the White Sox, Soto saw his slash line drop to .202/.333/.404 in May with his season OPS at .745.
Manager Carlos Mendoza told reporters after the 0-fer that he's seeing positive indicators that Soto could be turning things in the right direction.
3 Juan Soto went 0-for-4 on Wednesday afternoon.
JASON SZENES/NY POST
Advertisement
'Honestly, today was one of those days where he didn't hit the ball hard, but I thought that his foundation, his lower half, was in a better position,' he said. 'For me, that's a good sign.'
The Mets next play the MLB-worst Rockies in a weekend set, which could be the boon Soto needs.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Daylen Lile sparks seven-run, 10th-inning eruption as Nats' offense lets loose
SEATTLE — Daylen Lile scorched toward second base, clapped his hands together and let the delight of the moment linger. In the 10th inning Thursday night, virtually every Washington National, Lile included, thought the rookie had launched his first career home run. He had not. What he had done in the immediate was deliver a sacrifice fly that put the Nationals up by a run over the Seattle Mariners. In the aftermath of his first career RBI, a tight Nationals dugout turned into a balmy sanctum.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Chris Sale becomes fastest pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts as Braves beat Phillies 9-3
Chris Sale became the fastest pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts, pitched six scoreless innings and the Atlanta Braves beat the Philadelphia Phillies 9-3 on Thursday night to split a doubleheader. The Phillies won the afternoon game 5-4. Sale (3-3) struck out Edmundo Sosa in the sixth inning for his eighth strikeout, to reach the milestone. He did it in 2,026 innings, surpassing the record of 2,107 2/3 set by Randy Johnson.
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Junior Caminero's 6 RBIs power Rays past Astros, ending Houston's 4-game win streak
HOUSTON — Junior Caminero homered and drove in a career-high six RBIs to lead the Tampa Bay Rays to a 13-3 win over the Houston Astros on Thursday night. The game was tied 3-all with no outs and two on in the seventh when Yandy Díaz's RBI single put the Rays on top. Tampa Bay made it 5-3 when Jonathan Aranda reached and Díaz scored on a fielding error by first baseman Victor Caratini. Caminero then connected off Bryan King (3-1) on his 11th homer this season to push the lead to 8-3. The 21-year-old Caminero, who finished a triple shy of the cycle, drove in two more runs on a double in Tampa Bay's five-run eighth that made it 13-3. Jose Altuve and Yainer Diaz hit solo homers for the Astros, whose four-game winning streak was halted. Altuve tied it at 3 with his shot to left-center field off Shane Baz with no outs in the sixth. It's the third home run in three games for Altuve, who went deep twice Tuesday night. The Rays took an early lead when Díaz drove in a run on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. Simpson walked to start the fourth and stole second base. He swiped third after a strikeout by Kameron Misner and scored on the play on a throwing error by Diaz, making it 2-0. The Rays extended the lead to 3-0 on an RBI single by Caminero with two outs in the fifth. Diaz homered with one out in the bottom of the inning before a double by Cam Smith. There were two outs in the inning when Mauricio Dubón drove in Smith with a single to cut the lead to 3-2. Houston starter Ryan Gusto allowed four hits and two runs with four walks in 3 2/3 innings. Utility player César Salazar pitched the ninth for the Astros after they used five relievers following Gusto's early exit. He hit one batter in a scoreless inning. Baz yielded seven hits and three runs in 5 2/3 innings. Edwin Uceta (4-1) got the last out of the sixth for the win. The three-run homer by Caminero that broke the game open in the seventh. The Rays had five stolen bases Thursday to give them an MLB-leading 81 this season. Three were by Simpson to bring his season total to 19, which ranks third in the majors. Houston LHP Framber Valdez (4-4, 3.39 ERA) opposes RHP Ryan Pepiot (3-5, 3.55) when the series continues Friday night. ___ AP MLB:
