Why Carlos Mendoza’s Bold Decision to Keep Juan Soto in Right Field Could Change the Mets’ Future Forever

Juan Soto’s future with the Mets has been a hot topic ever since he inked that massive 15-year contract. It’s almost certain that at some point, the team will slide him over to the designated hitter spot, but don’t mark your calendars for 2026 just yet. Carlos Mendoza made it clear at the Winter Meetings that Soto will still be patrolling right field regularly this upcoming season. That’s music to my ears—Soto’s not just a bat; he has a real pride in his defense, even if last season’s numbers didn’t shine. The guy hates DHing, plain and simple, and if he’s firing on all cylinders physically, he’s going to be out there making plays. Sure, there might be times when the grind of the schedule forces his bat to sit in the DH slot, but the plan is to keep him chasing down fly balls as much as possible. With the DH role open, it’s intriguing to think about potential moves—Kyle Schwarber might snag that spot, or perhaps Pete Alonso if he comes back. The Mets are clearly betting on Soto to bounce back defensively, and watching him work with outfield coach Antoan Richardson underscores just how motivated he is to prove the doubters wrong. It’ll be fascinating to see how all this plays out on and off the field this year. LEARN MORE.

Juan Soto will likely have to move to DH at some point during his 15-year deal with the Mets, but don’t expect it in 2026.

Carlos Mendoza indicated on Monday at the Winter Meetings that he will continue to use Soto consistently in right field this season.

“He doesn’t like DHing,” the skipper said. “He takes pride in being a good defender, and he will continue to do so. The schedule will dictate sometimes dealing with physical stuff and you’re trying to keep his bat in the lineup, the DH may come in to play, but if he’s feeling good enough, he’s going to be out there in right field.”

Soto appeared in just three games as the DH during his first season in Queens.

He worked hard with outfield coach Antoan Richardson on improving defensively during spring training, but still finished with a minus-13 Fielding Run Value and minus-12 Outs Above Average during his first season in Queens.

Still, David Stearns indicated earlier this offseason that the team believes he can turn things around with the glove.

“Juan is one of our players we believe can perform better defensively than he did last year,” he told Mike Puma of the NY Post. “I think he believes that he’s going to work hard on it this offseason — he’s motivated to do that, and he’s proven at previous times in his career that he can perform better in right field.”

Keeping Soto regularly in right leaves the DH spot open for a potential Kyle Schwarber addition in free agency.

Pete Alonso could also be in the mix for more DH at-bats if he were to return to the club.