Plain & Simple: Steve Cohen Isn't Getting What He Paid For

When Juan Soto signed with the New York Mets this past offseason, he didn’t just accept a contract—he accepted a crown. A record-setting deal that made headlines for its size, scope, and symbolism: Steve Cohen’s Mets were not only willing to back up the Brinks truck, they were ready to build around Soto for the next decade and a half.

Yes, the Mets gave him the most money. More than the Yankees, more than the Dodgers, and more than anyone else even dared to offer. Soto chose the Mets, plain and simple. But now he has to show why he was worth that decision—not just in dollars, but in desire.

Instead, it’s been a slow, uninspiring start in Queens. And the questions are piling up fast.

Soto’s body language? Flat. His smile? Nowhere to be found. His hustle? Noticeably missing. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed. Mets fans, already exhausted by years of bloated payrolls and underperformance, are beginning to turn. It’s not just that Soto’s struggling at the plate—it’s that he doesn’t look like he cares.

Even Mets manager Carlos Mendoza has acknowledged Soto’s sluggish demeanor, noting that the star outfielder is “frustrated” with his slow start. Mendoza didn’t share details of their conversations, but it’s clear something is off. He’s not running balls out. He’s not playing with fire. He’s not, well, Juan Soto.

Inside the clubhouse, some say the mood is just as concerning. Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay recently said Soto seems “very, very glum.” There’s chatter that he already misses the Yankees—who were serious contenders in free agency but, in the end, weren’t ready to go as far as Cohen financially.

Which brings us to Scott Boras.

Soto’s agent defended his client in a May 23 interview with Jon Heyman of the New York Post, insisting that a bit of regret is natural when all your options are elite. According to Boras, Soto is just adjusting to his new reality. “It’s taking time to learn how to wear the crown,” he said. Boras described this transition as a “90-day assimilation period,” saying there’s still another month to go before Soto fully acclimates.

Boras went on to say he’s advised Soto to “swing less” and be patient. Wait—what? Swing less? Ease into a $700 million contract? What kind of message is that sending? Is this really the time to slow-play greatness?

Let’s be blunt: there’s no time for a 15-year honeymoon. When you accept the richest contract in baseball history, the spotlight doesn’t dim—it blazes hotter. This isn’t the time for excuses. It’s the time to lead. To electrify. To perform.

Because right now, Soto doesn’t look like the centerpiece of a championship team. He looks like someone who’s unsure of his choice.

And maybe he is. In a Sports Illustrated profile from spring training, Soto struggled to explain why he ultimately picked the Mets. He acknowledged that the Yankees “did a pretty good job” recruiting him, but hesitated, rambled, and admitted that their lack of urgency bothered him. “I wanted to get it done,” he said, referring to a deal with the Yankees, but they were “still bouncing around.”

Eventually, he chose the team with the most certainty—and the deepest pockets. Soto said Cohen’s commitment to contention made him believe the Mets were best suited for the long haul. He mentioned Cohen’s hands-on recruiting efforts. Family-friendly. Big vision. Big wallet.

But none of that matters now if the performance doesn’t follow.

Because here’s the hard truth: Juan Soto looks miserable in a Mets uniform. And that’s not what a nearly billion-dollar man should look like. He should be bursting out of the dugout with fire. He should be running out every ground ball like his contract depends on it. He should be leading—not sulking.

And if he isn’t, it’s on Steve Cohen to step in and ask the tough question: Are we getting what we paid for? If not, the conversation shouldn’t just be about patience—it should be about accountability.

If this continues, Cohen has every right to sit down with Boras and Soto and say, “We need to talk…we need to restructure this contract. We’re not getting our return.” Because elite money demands elite effort. And right now, Juan Soto looks like anything but a generational superstar.

He took the money. Now he has to earn it. That’s the bottom line.