Juan Soto sweepstakes win shows Mets are ready for heightened expectations: Reed Garrett

Todd Zeile played Santa Claus, and Reed Garrett, dressed in green and red velvet, was by his side as a helpful elf at Citi Field, where the Mets hosted more than 125 Queens students for their annual Kids Holiday Party.Of course, Steve and Alex Cohen already have done their best Santa impression this winter in gifting Mets fans Juan Soto.The surprise, feel-good club that sang its way into fans’ hearts and the NLCS last season is gone.The Mets have entered the realm of expecting deep runs into October.“Steve and Alex, with what they’ve done to show that we’re committed to win,” Garrett said Thursday, “I think that we took the right steps forward last year, and this year there’s going to be a little bit higher expectations.“But I think bringing Juan in, it shows that we’re ready for it.”Garrett has not faced Soto but has played with him, the two overlapping briefly in Washington in 2022.The Mets reliever said Soto is a great clubhouse addition who “leads by example.”He will be a better on-field addition, Soto probably hitting second in the lineup coming off a brilliant season and postseason that brought the Yankees three wins shy of a World Series title.“He’s a great player.

I’m glad we don’t have to pitch to him anymore,” said Garrett, who gave out gifts to the children.“I think he’s an anchor for our team, and he’s going to be somebody who can change a game by himself.

And I think he’s just truly an unbelievable talent.”Garrett has not yet chatted with Soto.He and most of the rest of the Mets are laying low during the offseason, Garrett bummed that his and David Peterson’s shared fantasy football team has been eliminated from the team’s league.

But he is enjoying an offseason that he has entered as a proven commodity.Last winter, the righty reliever hung on the Mets’ 40-man roster for the entirety of the offseason, his first time as a major leaguer in which he did not change teams or sign as a free agent.Sig...