The Long Road To An MVP: Mets History Meets Juan Soto’s Prime

The New York Mets signed Juan Soto to a massive 15-year contract last offseason, hoping the four-time All-Star would finally help deliver their first World Series title since 1986. That dream didn’t materialize in 2025, as the Mets collapsed late in the season and ultimately missed the playoffs. Even so, Soto continued to shine individually, finishing third in MVP voting for the second consecutive year.

Soto has been on an MVP trajectory since his debut in 2018. In just his second season, he placed ninth in NL MVP voting, climbed to fifth in 2020, and then finished runner-up to Bryce Harper in 2021. His lone down year came in 2022, after being traded to San Diego, marking the only time he wasn’t considered for an MVP since his rookie season. But Soto quickly rebounded in 2023, finishing sixth in the MVP race behind a career-high 35 home runs and a league-leading 135 walks.

The Padres traded Soto to the Yankees in 2024, where he delivered his most complete season to date: career highs in plate appearances, at-bats, runs scored, hits, and home runs. That performance earned him a third-place finish in AL MVP voting. The Mets then committed to him long-term with one of the largest contracts in baseball history, and Soto rewarded them in 2025 by setting new personal bests with 43 home runs and 38 stolen bases—once again finishing third in the MVP race.

Despite their rich history, the Mets have never produced a league MVP in their 63 seasons. Now entering the heart of his prime, Soto is becoming even more dangerous as a hitter, pairing elite plate discipline with growing power and speed. With his prime years still ahead of him and 14 seasons left in New York, he may never have a better opportunity to finally bring the Mets their first-ever MVP award.

Mets Top 5 MVP Finishers

David Conde

David is the Founder and Co-Owner of Legends On Deck and Co-Host of the Legends On Deck Podcast. A lifelong sports fan with a special passion for the New York Mets and New York Knicks, David has spent more than a decade covering the sports he loves. From 2010 to 2014, he served as a Senior Editor for MetsMerized Online and Mets Minors, and in June 2014 fulfilled a lifelong dream by covering the New York Mets at Citi Field as a credentialed writer. As Legends On Deck has expanded beyond baseball, David has enjoyed diving into more sports, learning along the way and sharing those stories with readers and listeners. Married for over 27 years and the proud father of two adult sons, he continues to connect with sports fans through Legends On Deck, the podcast and social media.