The 10 Soto games you won't want to miss in 2025
Thomas Harrigan
@HarriganMLBThere are still plenty of twists and turns to come this offseason, but now that Juan Soto¡¯s free-agent tour has reached its stunning conclusion -- with Soto and the Mets reaching a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal (per sources) on Sunday night -- it¡¯s impossible not to have an eye on the 2025 campaign.
With that in mind, here are some of the Soto-centric showdowns we can¡¯t wait to watch next year.
March 27 (Opening Day at Astros)
All eyes will be on Houston as Soto makes his highly anticipated Mets debut on the road against the defending American League West champions. Houston also served as the setting for Soto¡¯s debut with the Yankees in 2024, and he made his presence felt immediately, leading his new team to an Opening Day win over the Astros by reaching base three times and delivering a clutch outfield assist to prevent the tying run from scoring in the bottom of the ninth.
April 4 (Home opener vs. Blue Jays)
Mets fans are undoubtedly eager to welcome their new franchise cornerstone to Citi Field, and they¡¯ll get their chance when the club opens its 2025 home slate with a matchup against the Blue Jays -- one of the teams that was reportedly involved in the bidding war for Soto.
April 21 (vs. Phillies)
This matchup already carried plenty of intrigue, with the Mets having eliminated the National League East-champion Phillies from the playoffs in 2024. Adding Soto into the mix only turns up the heat.
April 25 (at Nationals)
A little over two years after trading Soto to the Padres, the Nationals are a team on the rise, thanks in part to the young talent they received in that blockbuster deal. However, Washington¡¯s climb in the NL East just became much steeper with Soto now suiting up for the Mets. Soto has returned to Nationals Park as a visitor before, but this will be his first time doing so as a division rival.
May 16 (at Yankees)
The Subway Series rivalry is about to reach a whole new level of intensity. Soto¡¯s lone year with the Yankees was unforgettable, culminating with their first World Series appearance since 2009, but it will be interesting to see how he is received at Yankee Stadium after spurning the Bronx Bombers to sign with the crosstown Mets.
May 19 (at Red Sox)
The Red Sox hoped Soto would choose Fenway Park as his new home, but it was not to be. At least Boston can take solace in the fact that it no longer has to face Soto regularly in the AL East.
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? Morosi breaks down Soto's deal with Mets
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May 23 (vs. Dodgers)
With Shohei Ohtani leading the charge for the Dodgers and Soto now a member of the Mets, this is primed to be one of baseball¡¯s marquee matchups for years to come. Los Angeles knocked off the Mets in the NLCS en route to a World Series title, but its chances of repeating just became a bit more difficult with Soto making his return to the NL.
June 17 (at Braves)
For much of the past three decades, the Mets have found themselves looking up at the Braves in the NL East standings. However, the addition of Soto could dramatically alter the division landscape. The Mets won¡¯t see the Braves for the first time in 2025 until mid-June, by which point Atlanta could have both Ronald Acu?a Jr. and Spencer Strider back from injury, potentially adding even more excitement to this matchup.
July 4 (vs. Yankees)
This Independence Day matchup promises plenty of fireworks, as the Mets welcome the Yankees to Citi Field for the first time since signing Soto away from their crosstown rivals.
July 28 (at Padres)
After being traded from the Padres to the Yankees last offseason, Soto received an icy welcome from the San Diego faithful when he made his return to Petco Park for a series in late May. The jeers may only get louder after Soto decided to join the Mets, perhaps knocking the Friars down a peg in the hierarchy of NL powerhouses.