The Mets’ offensive funk goes well beyond Juan Soto

Biggest contract, largest target. 

These are the understood rules. Sign a contact for an island nation’s gross national product, and brace for being blamed for everything, up to and including rain delays. Certainly anticipate that if the offense doesn’t function, Juan Soto, you will be the center of the storm. 

And Soto certainly is no innocent bystander to the Mets’ ordinary overall offensive performance this season — and something far less than that recently. Notably, Soto has been among the majors’ worst clutch hitters and taken the Mets down that sinkhole with him. 

But the Mets offense has more than a Soto problem.