3 things the NY Mets need from Juan Soto if he’s going to compete for the MVP

Winning MVP in any sport is never easy. Baseball is one of the few to crown two winners, one for each league, but even then the competition is steep. The National League is especially difficult given the presence of Shohei Ohtani and since he won't slow down for a few more years, the standards have never been higher. If there's any New York Mets player with the pedigree to dethrone him, it's Juan Soto.

Even for a generational talent like Soto, it's a tall task. He has been a top-five MVP candidate four times in his eight-year career but has never done enough to take home the prize. He's still projected to have another outstanding year but if he wants to finally bring home the hardware, here are a few things that should be on his to-do list.

Three musts for an MVP season out of Juan Soto

1. Improve outfield defense

Juan Soto has never really been a good defender. The last time he posted a Defensive Runs Saved figure above average was in 2021. In the four seasons since, he's racked up -14. After signing a record-breaking deal in free agency, many argued that it was an overpay because he'd become a designated hitter sooner rather than later. It's not what he would prefer but a few more seasons of poor fielding contributions could force the Mets' hand.

If he enjoys playing the field as much as he does, then it wouldn't hurt to start turning things around defensively. Although it's a different metric from DRS entirely, his Outs Above Average points to the biggest weakness in his game which is a lack of range. His -12 OAA in 2025 landed him in the 1st percentile of qualified players. He doesn't need to be Steven Kwan or Alex Gordon but getting to league-average defensively would be a big lift to his MVP candidacy.

2. Go for 50/50

Baseball loves arbitrary milestones. When Ronald Acuña Jr. received all 30 first-place votes for the 2023 MVP award, his 40/70 milestone was a major storyline. Mookie Betts actually edged him out slightly in rWAR but his case was far too nuanced to overpower Acuña's unprecedented statistical success.

Juan Soto wasn't too far off a major milestone of his own. He hit 43 home runs and stole 38 bags, both of which were career bests. The surge in activity on the basepaths was particularly surprising since he hadn't stolen more than 12 bags in any prior season. There's a chance that he'll cut back on the stolen bases in 2026 but reaching a threshold like 50/50 may be too impressive for MVP voters to vote against.

3. Continue serving as the Mets' power generator

Last season, Soto just barely edged out Pete Alonso to lead the team in slugging percentage (.525). Now that Alonso is gone and Francisco Lindor may still carry lingering effects from his hamate injury, Soto's power contributions will matter even more.

In 2025, the Mets had a combined slugging percentage of .427, 8th in MLB. It was a big part of their lineup's success but there aren't as many power bats in the lineup this year. The team may see a slight boost from having Bo Bichette in the infield but with an atypical first baseman in Jorge Polanco, Soto will have to bear the burden of being the team's primary slugger once more.