On a night marked by mixed emotions, Juan Soto returned to Yankee Stadium wearing the colors of the Mets for the first time. It didn’t matter that he was instrumental in leading the Yankees to the World Series, nor his outstanding season last year. What echoed around the stadium was not applause, but a symphony of boos that made it clear that the Bronx does not forgive easily.
While the Yankees won 6-2, the focus was not only on the scoreboard. The real story was woven in the stands, where the love of a wounded fan base turned to anger. Soto, far from cowering, responded with a serene gesture: tipping his cap and saluting.
Beltran: the experience of being “the enemy”
Carlos Beltran did not need to be on the field to relive an old wound. “It’s hard to ignore the boos. It’s hard to ignore all that,” he confessed, connecting directly with what Soto experienced. Almost two decades ago, he himself changed the jersey of the Astros for that of the Mets, and the return to Houston was just as noisy. Being singled out as a traitor, even after contributing to the team’s success, was a burden he knows well.
But beyond empathy, Beltran offered context. “This was to be expected. He’s a player who last year did an incredible job for the Yankees… I think even he expected it,” he said. His words do not seek to justify, but to recognize a difficult truth: the memory of the fans is emotional, not rational.
Broken loyalty, intact returns
Soto was not the first nor will he be the last to change teams after a great season. But the magnitude of his contract with the Mets ($765 million for 15 years) compared to the Yankees’ slightly lower offer revived the eternal debate between loyalty and business. Numbers matter, but the fan’s heart rarely does the math.
Beltran also crossed that threshold years ago. After a historic postseason with Houston in 2004, he signed with the Mets for $119 million, rejecting a strong local offer. The backlash was immediate: betrayal, boos, pressure. “That was great,” he said now of the way Soto faced the noise. “He had good at-bats. That can be tough if you let it get to you.”
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