Juan Soto is officially on the injured list. This is bad news for a team that already lost its star shortstop to a similar issue. The Mets just lost their most important hitter for a second time this year. A Grade 2 strain in his left calf is the official diagnosis. That is a real injury, not just a minor tweak.
The Injury Timeline Looks Rough
Soto had imaging done on his leg after leaving Friday night’s game early. The results showed a strain that is worse than the one he had in April. According to Amazin Avenue, this new injury is less severe than Francisco Lindor’s two-month absence. But it is still significant enough to keep Soto out for weeks. Interim manager Andy Green says the team expects Soto back in September. That is a long time to wait when the season is slipping away. The team will factor in his “long-term importance” when setting the timeline, per the same report. But missing the playoffs is not what you want for a $765 million player.
Soto and Lindor were supposed to be durable stars. They have combined for just 3.7 fWAR this season. If both were healthy, they should have produced over 11 WAR. Instead, the Mets have seen their best two players miss massive chunks of time. This is a nightmare scenario for a franchise that promised to win now. Soto’s absence makes it harder to trade for help before the deadline. The team now has to audition players like Jorge Polanco without their best bat in the lineup. That is a tough sell to other clubs.
A Season of Broken Promises
The Mets lost 4-3 to the Dodgers in their last game. Soto left that contest with calf tightness after just two plate appearances. He was replaced by Polanco, who tried to keep the team in the game. But the bullpen gave up three runs and the offense could only muster solo homers. The Dodgers are the best team in baseball. The Mets are one of the worst. The gap is getting wider every day. Soto is the lone All-Star for the club this season. Losing him now feels like a cruel joke.
Amazin Avenue notes that Soto has been the best hitter in the National League when healthy. He has a 159 wRC+ in 359 plate appearances. Only two players in the American League have been better. Now he is sitting on the bench while the team fights to stay relevant. The trade deadline is approaching fast. Soto’s absence makes it easier to move players like Luis Robert Jr. or Polanco. But why sell low when you are already down? The Mets need to find a way to win without their best asset. They might not have that luxury.
Eric Wagaman has been recalled from Triple-A to take Soto’s spot. He has played 28 games this season with a 68 wRC+. He can play corner outfield or infield. But he is not Juan Soto. The Mets need a miracle to turn this season around. They are 4-3 in their series against the Dodgers. They need to scrape out a win without their star. The season is already in trouble. Now it might be in free fall. Can the Mets find a spark without Soto? Or is this the end of the road for 2026?
Do you think the Mets should trade Polanco now, or wait for Soto to return? Let us know what you think in the comments.
