Sal: Juan Soto's defense, walks 'might drive me crazy' if he signs with Mets

Sal still wants, and expects, the Mets to land Juan Soto this winter, but if they do, he could see some parts of the Yankee star’s game getting on his nerves as a fan.

After watching Soto misplay two balls in right field on consecutive nights, Sal worries that the defensive mishaps coupled with his approach at the plate could leave him frustrated.

“I know I want the Mets to get him, and I still want that,” Sal said. “However, I think he’s a guy who would drive me nuts being ‘the guy.’

“He’s not great defensively. That was a weakness we talked about before the Yankees even traded for him. And he walks a ton. You know how I feel about the walks.”

Sal sounded off on Soto’s approach earlier in the season, wanting to see him go for the big hit instead of hunting the base on balls, especially earlier in the year when Aaron Judge was struggling. Now it’s a little easier to take given the bats around him, but if he were on the Mets and tasked with leading the offense, Sal could see himself wanting more from a highly-paid superstar.

“That’s fine, especially when you have Judge behind you or Volpe in front of you,” Sal said. “But when you’re the guy in the lineup and you’re taking those walks or butchering plays in right field, and you’re expected to be the savior of the Mets - it’s not fair to put that on him, but when you’re getting a contract of $500-600 million , there’s gonna be a lot put on him. He might feel the wrath.

“The Mets don’t have Aaron Judge…I could see how on a nightly basis, that might drive me crazy.”