Juan Soto’s first season with the New York Mets has been full of ups and downs—and now, controversy. After being left off the 2025 All-Star Game roster, Soto shared his disappointment in a way that didn’t sit well with everyone.
When asked if he was upset about missing out, Juan Soto didn’t mention performance or pride. Instead, he bluntly said: “I think it’s a lot of money on the table [if I make it].” That money? A $100,000 All-Star bonus that would’ve kicked in with his selection.
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Yankees Michael Kay Sounds Off
The comments quijuackly caught the attention of Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, who was stunned by Juan Soto’s remarks. On his ESPN New York radio show, Kay admitted he thought the clip was fake at first.
“Oh, goodness gracious. Talk about being tone deaf,” Kay said. “You’re making a smidge under $47 million this season… and you’re upset because you missed out on a bonus?”
Kay argued that Juan Soto’s focus on money, given the context of his $765 million contract, came off as out of touch with fans. “Do you even realize how that makes you look?” he added.
Despite the backlash, Soto made a strong All-Star case with his June performance, slashing .322/.474/.722 with 11 home runs and 20 RBIs. He even earned NL Player of the Month honors. But a sluggish start in April and May may have cost him the fan and manager votes.
Instead, Ronald Acuña Jr., Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Kyle Tucker will start in the National League outfield, while Fernando Tatis Jr. and others will fill out the bench.
Juan Soto’s frustration is understandable, but publicly griping over a six-figure bonus while making nearly $50 million this year. That’s bound to rub people the wrong way.
Do you think Juan Soto was just being honest, or did he miss the mark?
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