The Juan Soto sweepstakes have concluded. While he is staying in New York, Soto is making a shift from the Bronx to Queens after agreeing to a 15-year contract with the New York Mets on Sunday night.
The reported value of Soto’s new deal is $765 million, with no deferred payments, and potential escalators in the contract could push the total above $800 million.
This marks the largest contract in professional sports history.
The Mets were considered the Yankees’ biggest rivals for Soto’s free agency, largely due to Mets owner Steve Cohen’s willingness to outspend anyone for a player he wants. Cohen was determined to acquire Soto at any cost.
Soto’s appeal as a player lies not only in his status as one of the best hitters in baseball but also in the fact that he is just 26 years old and still likely to be in the prime of his career for several more years. He has made a significant impact on every team he has played for in MLB.
He was instrumental in helping the Washington Nationals win the 2019 World Series, guided the San Diego Padres to the NLCS in 2022, and became the missing piece for the Yankees to return to the World Series in 2024.
During the 2024 regular season, Soto hit .288 with a .989 OPS, blasting 41 home runs and driving in 109 RBIs, while posting a .419 on-base percentage. He ranked among the top four in MLB for home runs, on-base percentage, slugging, and OPS.
This is a transformative move for the Mets, who were already an NLCS team in 2024. With Soto joining their lineup alongside Francisco Lindor, a World Series appearance in 2025 is now a realistic expectation.
For the Yankees, the task now is not only to replace the large gap in their lineup but also to demonstrate to their fans that they are still dedicated to winning by making a big move this offseason.
Leave a Reply