It is safe to say that New York Mets fans were over the moon when the team announced the signing Juan Soto in the 2024-25 offseason.
Fresh off an NLCS run, the Mets had snatched a generational superstar from the rival Yankees and looked poised to contend for a championship. It felt like a coronation. But in classic Mets fashion, that wave of optimism crashed in stunning fashion.
Instead of building on their postseason success, the Mets missed the playoffs on the final day of the regular season after one of the most stunning collapses in recent memory.
Soto, for his part, was brilliant. He posted one of the most impressive offensive seasons in franchise history, proving worthy of the record-breaking $765 million deal. But despite his heroics, the team crumbled, and with that collapse came endless mockery.
And then, Soto poured gasoline on the fire.
Just days after the Mets were eliminated and while the Yankees prepared for the ALDS, Soto posted a photo to Instagram: aboard a plane, en route to Cancun. The caption was lighthearted, but the timing was catastrophic. A harmless vacation suddenly turned into meme fuel for every Mets and Soto detractor across the internet.
From superstar to meme material
Fans of all sports have long joked that when teams are eliminated early, their players are “heading to Cancun.” Soto actually doing so, so soon after the Mets’ downfall, turned that running gag into real life. The moment was tailor-made for trolling and the internet didn’t disappoint.
While no one is blaming Soto for taking a vacation after a grueling season and a crushing ending, perception is everything in New York sports. And when a $765 million superstar appears to be relaxing while the crosstown rivals are still playing meaningful October baseball, the optics are brutal.
The Yankees didn’t miss the opportunity, either. Their postseason hype video took subtle jabs at Soto’s absence, further fueling the narrative. And with Mets fans already reeling from a season of bullpen meltdowns, inconsistent hitting, and untimely injuries, the vacation post became a symbol of how badly things had unraveled.
Soto now finds himself at the center of a firestorm that isn’t really about him, but about what he represents. The Mets went all-in, and it backfired spectacularly. Fair or not, as the face of that gamble, Soto will wear the criticism until the team turns it around.
The front office is already making sweeping changes to the coaching staff, and owner Steve Cohen has issued a public apology to fans. But unless 2026 brings redemption, the image of Soto flying to Cancun could haunt Mets lore for years.
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