MIAMI Juan Soto delivered a 30-30 season and nearly a 40-40 season finishing with 43 home runs, 38 steals and a .921 OPS in a tour de force first year with the Mets. And yet the team he picked in free agency . Acce s 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. The four also-rans in the Soto sweepstakes the Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays and Dodgers all will play into October. But Soto does not yet have public regrets concerning the $765 million deal he signed that brought him to Queens for 15 years. At his introductory news conference, he cited not the money, rather the Mets chances for sustained excellence being the biggest separator. He raved about the talent in the Mets organization, and team owner Steve Cohen told him he would like to win two to four World Series titles over the next decade. Juan Soto reacts during the Mets-Marlins game on Sept. 28, 2025. Charles Wenzelberg/New York Post Explore More After a historic collapse in which the best team in baseball through mid-June finished 38-55 over the final three and a Al-Farouq Aminu Jersey half months, Soto said he still believes in the organization. One hundred percent, Soto said after Sundays at loanDepot Park, where he went 0-for-3 with a walk. One season is not going to determine what we have here. We have everything that we need to go all the way still. An optimist can look at a strong year for the Mets farm system, which graduated enticing starting pitching prospects in Nolan McLean, Brandon Sproat and Jonah Tong, along with a strong offensive nucleus that begins with Soto and Francisco Lindor and envision an immediate bounce back. Juan Soto looks on during the Mets-Marlins game on Sept. 28, 2025. Getty Images CHECK OUT THE AND A realist can ask meaningful questions about the organization after a historic collapse that occurred like Hemingway wrote: Gradually, then suddenly. It began with the injury to Kodai Senga and continued with injuries to Griffin Canning and Tylor Megill. Frankie Montas came back from injury ineffectively and then got hurt again. Delivering insights on all things Amazins Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you By clicking above you agree to the and . Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Sean Manaea returned from injury without looking much like his 2024 self. They got hurt, Soto said of the starters, which is where he pinpointed the i sue. They were unbelievable at the beginning of the year. They started getting hurt, and thats when everything started going down. Sotos first season with the Mets was remarkable. It also will be remembered as a ma sive disappointment. Any time you dont make it to the playoffs or win the championship, its a failure, Soto said. Thats how were going to look at it, and thats how were going to work through things in the offseason. Vic Law Jersey