Soto returns Tonight - Does he regret leaving?

NEW YORK – Tonight is the night all New York baseball fans have been waiting for since Juan Soto departed for the crosstown Mets this past December.

Juan Soto has struggled (by struggles, I mean for him) since he has gotten to Queens, and has definitely made it known that he misses

Ahead of the Subway Series, Yankees Play-By-Play voice, Michael Kay was previewing the matchup on his radio show "The Michael Kay Show" on ESPN 880 Radio. I found some of the things that Michael had to say on his show about the Juan Soto situation very interesting.

The Fans:

“They feel betrayed. They feel like jilted lovers. They gave this guy every bit of love that you could possibly give a player.”

This is the absolute truth. The Yankees fans poured all their love into Soto and trying to keep him in pinstripes. It’s a decision that stung Yankees fans deeply. For once, the Yankees made the aggressive pitch, they showed Soto love, money, and winning—and still came up short. The feeling among many in the Bronx is that they lost not just a star, but a soulmate. And that makes the story of Juan Soto’s New York saga all the more complicated, emotional, and raw.

Soto's Decision itself:

“I’ve heard... he really wanted to return to the Yankees, and his family really wanted him to go to the Mets.”

This is something that’s been whispered around clubhouses, front offices, and radio stations for months now: Juan Soto himself wanted to remain a New York Yankee. After an electric walk year in the Bronx—where he was embraced by the fanbase, thrived in pressure-filled moments, and helped guide the Yankees to a World Series appearance—it seemed like a perfect fit for both sides. But as the story goes, while Soto may have had the emotional and professional desire to return to pinstripes, his inner circle reportedly had other plans.

It has been speculated from trusted media figures, Soto’s family played a major role in his free agency decision. Their preference leaned toward the Mets, citing reasons that may have included location, organizational culture, or financial incentives (like clothing bonuses and suites at Citi Field). Soto, known as a deeply family-oriented player, ultimately chose to honor those wishes and he choose the Mets.

Is Soto Unhappy in Queens?:

"And, you know, some people that I know that cover the Mets say it doesn't look like he's [Soto's] having much fun."

For a player who once energized ballparks with his signature “Soto Shuffle,” (which he has not done much of in Queens), infectious confidence, and high-leverage swagger, the current version of Soto appears muted—less engaged, less joyful, and perhaps less certain.

His body language in the batter’s box lacks its usual rhythm, and moments of animation that once defined him are now rare. Whether it’s the pressure of a new city, the weight of the near $800 million contract, or the emotional pull of what could have been in pinstripes, something feels different.

It’s not about effort or professionalism—Soto is still productive—but the joy, the spark that made him magnetic, might be flickering. And in New York, where the spotlight never dims and every gesture is analyzed, that absence is glaring.

Soto's return to the Bronx is certainly going to be under the microscope of the media and this weekend, and especially tonight, Yankee Stadium, is going to be Baseball Cinima.