By Jimmy Hascup | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
In a moment that’s ignited both fan debate and talk show chatter, Yankees announcer Michael Kay didn’t hold back in expressing his disapproval of recent comments made by Mets outfielder Juan Soto.
The longtime voice of the Yankees took issue with Soto’s nostalgic remarks about former teammate Aaron Judge, implying the Mets star’s words were both misguided and disrespectful — especially given the timing.
Soto, who signed a staggering 15-year, $765 million deal with the New York Mets in the offseason after being traded to the Yankees in 2023, has been adjusting to life in Queens. But his recent interview with the New York Post’s Mike Puma raised some eyebrows.
In the piece, Soto shared that things felt “different” this season, specifically referencing how it felt not having Aaron Judge hitting behind him in the lineup — a luxury he enjoyed last year in the Bronx.
While some interpreted the comment as harmless honesty from a player who enjoyed past success with Judge, Michael Kay viewed it as tone-deaf and dismissive — especially to current Mets teammates like Pete Alonso.
“You could have spent the next seven years of your career with Aaron Judge hitting behind you,” Kay said on his ESPN Radio show on Tuesday.
“You chose to ignore that. Now, if I’m a Met fan, not only does that bother me that you seem like you have this wanderlust for a guy that you left, but it’s also kind of a backhanded slap at Pete Alonso.”
Alonso, the Mets’ star first baseman and homegrown power bat, has actually been thriving in the cleanup spot behind Soto.
So far in the young season, Alonso is hitting a red-hot .356 with a 1.195 OPS, five home runs, and 20 RBIs. While Judge may have a bigger brand and arguably a higher ceiling, Alonso has more than held his own in helping protect Soto in the lineup.
Soto, for his part, hasn’t gotten off to a blazing start — at least not by his MVP-caliber standards. As of the time of his comments, he was hitting .250 with a .859 OPS, three home runs, and seven RBIs.
(Two of those home runs came in back-to-back games following the interview.) The 25-year-old has yet to deliver a true signature moment in a Mets uniform — something that may have prompted him to reflect on the chemistry he had during his brief stint with Judge in the Bronx.
Kay, however, didn’t hold back in his analogies, likening Soto’s words to romantic regret.
“This is like pining for your old girlfriend while you’re on your honeymoon,” Kay said, adding that Soto’s quote could come off as a lack of full commitment to his new team and situation.
While the Mets haven’t publicly responded to Soto’s comments or Kay’s critique, the reaction among Mets and Yankees fans has been mixed.
Some Mets fans feel Soto was simply being honest and that he has every right to reflect on past dynamics that worked well. Others agree with Kay — that a franchise centerpiece should be all-in, especially when making that much money and playing in one of the world’s most demanding sports markets.
Soto, known for his confidence and swagger at the plate, now finds himself in the middle of a New York media swirl. Whether his remarks were harmless or not, one thing is clear: in the city that never sleeps, even a few words about a former teammate can keep the headlines buzzing.
And with both the Yankees and Mets off to strong starts in 2025, it’s only a matter of time before Soto gets another chance to speak with his bat — maybe even in an electrifying Subway Series moment that could redefine his image across New York.
