After receiving a massive contract from the New York Mets, Juan Soto is still worth a top-five pick in MLB fantasy redraft for 2025. From one team that made it to the World Series last year with the New York Yankees to another that still made the playoffs but fell short, Soto could be in for a down-year in comparison. However, that may allow for more fantasy production, as he is still considered in the top six consensus overall and as a hitter (top two outfielder).
Juan Soto 2024 Production
With the Yankees in 2024, Juan Soto was the fourth-ranked hitter among the MLB for fantasy with 712 points, according to Draft Buddy. Averaging 4.5 per game, the superstar stayed durable, playing in 157 games at 26 years old. As an outfielder, he was below his former teammate Aaron Judge but was second in the league, playing one less game than Judge as well. Soto had a .419 on-base percentage and a .288 batting average., along with 109 RBIs and 7 stolen bases. Last season, he set career highs in home runs (41) and runs (128), according to Fantasy Pros.
The lefty had a 16.7% strikeout rate and an 18.1% walk rate last year, which were elite numbers. His low stolen bases and relatively high walk rate may lower his at-bat opportunities, even on a new team. Historically, besides the contract, he is on an all-time pace, with 655 runs, 201 home runs, and 592 RBIs in 3,280 at-bats. This was with three different teams, including the Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Washington Nationals.
Juan Soto 2025 Projection
Soto had 166 hits last year, which was ranked 17th among the MLB. That number could increase or decrease depending on how the Mets do this year. Despite a potential letdown season with a new team, he is still up there with the greats like Judge, Shohei Ohtani, and Bobby Witt Jr. for fantasy baseball. His current teammate, shortstop Francisco Lindor, is the only other Mets player ranked in the top 50 for fantasy MLB at about 13th overall. Being at the focal point, Soto could get more opportunities moving forward.
A few other players in the conversation with Juan Soto just outside the top five but still in the top ten overall include shortstop Elly De La Cruz, shortstop Gunnar Henderson, and 3rd baseman Jose Ramirez. Other outfielders that are at the top showcase Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts, Corbin Carroll, and Fernando Tatis Jr. However, all these names are in the top ten among hitters in the MLB.
Final Thoughts
In December, Soto signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765 million deal. This is the largest current contract in professional sports history, as expectations for him will be sky-high to take the Mets over the top. With all that hype could come with some disappointment right out the gate, but with most of the Mets roster in flux besides a few players, the star outfielder/hitter could easily rack up stats and make the most out of his position. Soto will still be among the elites in baseball and his power-hitting, along with on-base skills, make him a must in the top 10 for fantasy.
With Spring Training coming up in about a month, stay tuned for more MLB redraft fantasy outlooks from Total Apex Fantasy. With the NFL season coming to a close with the Super Bowl just a week away, we have daily NBA slates for DFS, along with game-specific daily fantasy previews. The 2025 MLB season is just around the corner and with a few massive moves this offseason like Juan Soto, it makes fantasy baseball way more interesting.
