Juan Soto, Mets Trolled by Fans for Missing MLB Playoff Bracket Despite $339M Payroll

The New York Mets had the best record in baseball (45-24) back on June 12 and the second-highest payroll in the sport this season. And yet they entered Sunday with their playoff hopes on life support, needing both a win over the Miami Marlins and a Cincinnati Reds loss.

The Milwaukee Brewers did their part, beating the Reds 4-2. The Mets were unable to handle their end of the bargain, however, losing 4-0 to officially end their season.

It was a collapse of epic proportions, and social media wasn't holding back:

More disappointing news followed shortly after Sunday's loss for Mets' fans:

There was plenty to be excited about for Mets fans heading into the 2025 season. The team was fresh off an exciting postseason run, Juan Soto was signed to a record-setting contract in free agency (15 years, $765 million) and Sean Manaea and Pete Alonso were retained.

And then the Mets got off to the hottest start in the sport, and when things started to spin out a bit, they went on a shopping spree ahead of the trade deadline, adding outfielder Cedric Mullins and relievers Ryan Helsley, Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers.

None of it mattered. Helsley was awful as the setup man to closer Edwin Díaz, posting a 7.58 ERA and 1.78 WHIP in 21 appearances for the Mets. Soto (4.70 ERA, 1.60 WHIP) and Mullins (.183 BA, .569 OPS) weren't much better.

The Mets got excellent seasons from Soto (43 homers, 105 RBI, 38 stolen bases, .921 OPS), Pete Alonso (38 homers, 126 RBI, .871 OPS) and Francisco Lindor (31 homers, 86 RBI, 31 stolen bases, .811 OPS), but the Mets never rediscovered the late-game, comeback magic they possessed from a year ago.

It didn't help that the rotation was disappointing and the bullpen, sans Diaz and Rogers, was more than accommodating to opposing hitters.

All in all, these Mets just... flopped. Hard. The top-end talent is undeniable, but the holes on the roster were too much to overcome. The Mets burned bright early, but they slowly, and painfully, withered away.