The New York Mets’ season has unfolded far worse than expected. After entering the year with legitimate postseason aspirations, the team has struggled to live up to those expectations and now finds itself on the verge of being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
The Mets are also dealing with the absence of their top player, outfielder Juan Soto, who is sidelined with a Grade 2 left calf strain. It remains uncertain whether Soto will be healthy enough to return before the end of the season, although he has recently resumed light baseball activities.
When healthy, the 27-year-old five-time All-Star continued to perform at an elite level, batting .283 with a .408 on-base percentage and a .947 OPS. He also launched 21 home runs and drove in 52 runs over 293 at-bats.
With the Mets’ season unraveling, the organization had little choice but to trade away valuable assets at the deadline. One of the toughest decisions was dealing right-hander Freddy Peralta to the Tampa Bay Rays, just months after New York acquired him from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for two highly regarded prospects.
Peralta recently shared photos on Instagram showing off his new Rays gear, and his former teammate Soto was quick to show his support. Soto commented, “Activooo 🔥🔥,” on the post.
The phrase is Spanish slang that roughly translates to being “ready to go” or “locked in,” conveying the idea that someone is energized, focused and prepared to perform.
Although Peralta’s time in Queens was disappointing from a statistical standpoint, with the right-hander recording a 4.99 ERA over 22 starts, he evidently made a lasting impression on his teammates, including Soto. While his performance on the mound fell short of expectations, the relationships he built inside the clubhouse clearly meant something, as Soto’s supportive message demonstrated.
