NY Mets have another duo rivaling some of the best from the past

For a multitude of months, New York Mets Nation has fantasized and ardently examined every possible clue hinting at superstar Juan Soto’s desire to don the orange and blue. But now, the signing of the superstar slugger to a record-breaking deal has become a precedential reality.

As we eagerly wait for Soto to make his mark on the Flushing franchise, the next fantasy shimmers to life: a stretch of sustained success led by the captivating duo of Soto and Lindor. In the 2024 campaign, one sensation dazzled in the batter’s box and on the field, willing the Flushing battalion into the playoffs and a deep run. The other swinging for the fences, living up to the moniker of the “Childish Bambino.” Two MVP-caliber performances, and in a few short months, will be on full display in the same uniform for years to come.

Throughout the franchise’s sixty-three seasons of baseball, we have seen several Mets tandems both on the mound and in the daily lineups. All becoming faces of the franchise at some juncture, but some channeling the hype and intrigue into true success. It begs the question: if the Mets can achieve the reiterated “sustained excellence” they are striving for, where would the Puerto Rican phenom and the Dominican dazzler stack up in the history of Amazin’ offensive duos?

Championship tier (Keith Hernandez, Gary Carter)

The two faces of the 1986 Mets championship team, Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter provided a steady presence both on the field and behind the scenes. The nature of Hernandez’s acquisition bears some resemblance to the Soto signing: the addition of a legitimate talent showing credibility and dedication to the fanbase about the seriousness of competing.

The sure-handed first baseman and Hall of Fame catcher consistently displayed their sharp defensive prowess, elite hitting and power, and when the moments mattered most, the ability to pull through. With all their attributes, accolades, and credentials in mind, the duo that spearheaded the Amazin’s second Commissioner’s trophy serves as the upper echelon to strive for.

While Hernandez already had a World Series championship under his belt with the 1982 St. Louis Cardinals, Carter had been longing for his first ring across his first twelve seasons. Compared to the current situation right now; Soto leading the Washington Nationals to their first franchise title in 2019 while Lindor is still searching for that coveted ring.

At the end of the day, for Soto and Lindor to be ever mentioned in the same breath as Hernandez and Carter as being the best Mets couplet, it’s not individual performances or the intangibles that will get the job done. Frankly, what stands between them is accomplishing the one thing that hasn’t been done since their fellow counterparts did in the 80s.

Heart and Soul (David Wright, Jose Reyes)

Perhaps deemed the gold standard of Mets duos, the captain David Wright and the electric speedster Jose Reyes provided a youthful energy and charisma that endeared Mets fans throughout the mid-2000s. Not only the cornerstones of the franchise but also the left side of the infield, the tandem provided an abundance of special seasons, premier performances, and tastes of postseason baseball at Shea.

But as great as they were, the one aspect that holds them back is what Lindor and Soto will try to defy: generating destined greatness into a championship. Since the departure of Reyes, the Mets had gone years without a respectable shortstop capable of providing consistency at the plate and sufficient defense. The bitter tale end of Wright’s baseball career leaves a sour taste in perhaps the biggest what-ifs for a franchise player.

The synergy that existed with Wright and Reyes at the top of the Mets order is revived for years to come with the presence of Soto and Lindor. Where the homegrown phenoms were largely defined by their complementary skills (Wright’s power and Reyes’s speed), Lindor and Soto could have a similar dynamic, but with a more modern, power-driven approach. If they can stay healthy and build a strong offensive foundation around their individual talents, they could form a duo that might be even more difficult to defend than Reyes and Wright.

As the start of a new season nears and fans start to get a glimpse of what Juan Soto can become as a Met, the intriguing thought of Lindor and Soto at the top of the lineup providing a potent offensive presence is something to be excited about. However, it’s completely understandable to think inversely; a reality where Soto’s long-term tenure with the Mets could be compared to large signings and acquisitions in the history of the franchise that didn’t pan out as intended.

For now, let’s appreciate a longed fantasy officially becoming a reality.