Gimme Your Picks of 26: Juan Soto

[Edgy MD]

I'm a guy who is pretty much the consensus best bat in the league. That doesn't mean I win the MVP every year, partially because some other jerk pitches as well as he hits, and he jumped from the AL to the NL the same year I did, but still, I'm the guy.

None of that makes me a sure thing, because baseball is baseball. I went and added some impressive baserunning value to my game in 2025, but I also scraped away whatever modest passing defensive performance I brought. I pledged to improve that part of my game, but the ability just may not be there, and anyhow, I've been consigned to left, where the Timmy Lupuses (Lupi?) of the world play.

But I'm good, I'm healthy, I'm consistent, and I have the patience to take a million walks if they don't throw to me. So while nothing is a sure thing, I'm as close to it as there is in baseball in 2026. Still, there is ambiguity — good vs. great vs. terrific can make a lot of difference.

So what do you see my season looking like?

I ask, because you are smart people.

[FIMG=320]https://empiresportsmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/MLB-Pittsburgh-Pirates-at-New-York-Mets-juan-soto-yankees-26161757-scaled.jpg[/FIMG] [FIMG=380]https://www.abc27.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2025/07/686de796d35d97.08112566.jpeg?w=2560&h=1440&crop=1[/FIMG]

[FIMG=320]https://www.amny.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-06-26T012814Z_42905061_MT1USATODAY26533132_RTRMADP_3_MLB-ATLANTA-BRAVES-AT-NEW-YORK-METS.jpg?quality=51[/FIMG] [FIMG=380]https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/ar_16:9,g_auto,q_auto:good,w_1024,c_fill,f_jpg/mlb/tdnrh7qxik54stkkpf53[/FIMG]

[Centerfield]

.276/.403/.544

36 HR. 111 RBI. 18 SB.

Still not great defense in LF.

3rd in MVP voting.

[Edgy MD]

The projecting system I am referencing (checking ... it is ZIPs) has him last among expected Mets with a -14.3 defensive score.

I confess I don't know what that means, apart from the understanding that lower is worse. On a per-162-game basis, only relatively fringe (and absolutely fringe) Mets figures fare worse.

Juan Soto — -15.2

Corey Collins — -16.4 (expected to open in Binghamton)

Jose Rojas — -17.0 (expected to open in Syracuse)

Nick Roselli — -20.6(!) (expected to open in Brooklyn)

[smg58]

I've been consigned to left, where the Timmy Lupuses (Lupi?) of the world play.

 

We had a Halloween-themed event at our campus last October, and one of my colleagues wore a Bears shirt complete with "Chico's Bail Bonds" on the back. It totally made my night.

I'm gonna be bullish on this Soto guy: .285/.425/.600, 130 runs and 110 RBI, and says "No way, Shohei!" as he goes to grab some hardware.

[Edgy MD]

A .600 slugging percentage is Kelly Leak territory.

[Frayed Knot]

HIS HIGH ON-BASE RATE

IS A RUN GOLD MINE

BUT WILL IT STILL BE THUS

IN TWENTY THIRTY-NINE

BURMA SHAVE

[Cowtipper]

47 HR, 119 RBI, 21 SB, .281 BA. 

[metirish]

44HR

129 RBI

.289 BA