Juan Soto is on the move - not out of Queens, but across the outfield.
The New York Mets are shifting their superstar slugger from right field to left for the 2026 season, a decision confirmed by team president of baseball operations David Stearns. It's a move that aligns with Soto’s role for the Dominican Republic in the upcoming World Baseball Classic and one that, according to Stearns, just makes sense for everyone involved.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t unfamiliar territory for Soto. While fans have grown used to seeing him in right field - particularly during his 2024 stint with the Yankees - left field is where his big league journey began.
He logged his first few seasons with the Nationals exclusively in left, then returned there full-time in 2023 with the Padres. In total, Soto brings 460 games of experience at the position into this season, so the switch is less about learning something new and more about returning to something familiar.
The ripple effect in the Mets' outfield is immediate. With Soto moving to left, right field opens up for a competition between veteran Tyrone Taylor and rookie Carson Benge. Luis Robert Jr. is expected to anchor center field, giving the Mets a potentially dynamic - and certainly intriguing - trio.
But while Soto’s bat is undeniable, his glove has long been a topic of debate. Defensive metrics haven’t been kind.
In his first season with the Mets, Soto posted minus-12 Outs Above Average - a figure that placed him among the least effective outfield defenders in the league. That’s a tough pill to swallow for a player carrying a $765 million price tag, but the Mets are clearly banking on maximizing his offensive value while minimizing the defensive liability.
Shifting Soto to left could be a strategic step in that direction. The position typically demands less range and fewer difficult throws than right field, which could help mask some of his defensive shortcomings. It also allows the Mets to explore more athletic or defensively sound options in right, potentially improving the outfield’s overall performance.
For Soto, the move to left might not just be about comfort - it could be about longevity. As he continues to carry the weight of massive expectations and an equally massive contract, staying healthy and productive is paramount. If left field helps him do that while keeping his bat in the heart of the lineup, the Mets will take that trade-off every time.
So while it might be strange at first to see No. 22 back in left field, this is far from uncharted territory. It’s a calculated move by a front office trying to squeeze every bit of value out of one of the game’s most electric hitters - and maybe, just maybe, build a more balanced outfield in the process.