Veteran NL Scout Issues six-words.
As MLB teams wrap up Spring Training and prepare for the 2025 season opener, the hype surrounding Juan Soto’s historic free agency deal feels like a distant memory. The 26-year-old, a four-time All-Star, was seen as a generational talent, and after helping the Yankees reach their 41st World Series, he entered free agency with expectations of setting a new contract record.
Soto lived up to those expectations, signing a groundbreaking 13-year, $765 million contract with the Mets—the largest in professional sports history, averaging $51 million per year. However, questions remain about whether he’s worth it. Throughout Spring Training, opposing fans have taunted him with chants of “Overpaid! Overrated!”—one of which he silenced by blasting a home run in response.
Critics Continue Labeling Soto ‘Overrated’
Even before inking his massive contract, Soto was criticized for being overrated. In a 2024 player poll conducted by *The Athletic*, an anonymous MLB player singled him out, claiming he “only walks and hits singles” while lacking power and defensive skills.
Now, a veteran National League scout has echoed that sentiment, calling Soto “one of the most overrated players” in *The Athletic*. The scout argued that while Soto gets on base and occasionally hits home runs, his defense and baserunning leave much to be desired. “The way we value walks today is what puts him in this class,” the scout said.
Defensive metrics seem to support this critique. During his time with the Yankees in 2024, Soto posted a Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) of zero, meaning he was neither a liability nor an asset in the field.
Soto’s Offensive Prowess
Despite the defensive concerns, Soto’s offensive numbers tell a different story. Using weighted runs created-plus (wRC+), a stat that measures offensive production (where 100 is league average), Soto has posted a career wRC+ of 158—making him 58% better than the average hitter. Among active players, only Aaron Judge ranks higher at 174.
Historically, Soto’s wRC+ ranks 12th all-time, trailing legends like Babe Ruth (197) and Ted Williams (188). However, with his record-breaking $51 million salary, some still debate whether his performance justifies the price tag. For comparison, Ruth’s highest salary in today’s dollars would be around $1.5 million, and Williams’ would be about $1.36 million—both far below Soto’s earnings.
Ultimately, whether Soto is truly overrated depends on one’s perspective. While his offensive stats are elite, his defensive and baserunning abilities continue to fuel the debate.
