Last season, it was Juan Soto. This time around, Ben Rice. Soto went to the Mets for $765 million. So far, Rice is outplaying the guy who used to wear this number in pinstripes. Here's how they compare in some major stats entering Friday night:

Juan Soto came to the New York Mets this winter on a record-breaking contract, but he's gotten off to a slow start. Here's why Mets fans aren't at all worried.

After all, Soto's presence ahead of Judge in the Yankees' lineup did create more opportunities for the latter to bat with a man on base. He saw more pitches to hit accordingly, so of course he went off for a 58-homer, 144-RBI season that netted him his second American League MVP.