DALLAS — The coveted free agent known as Juan Soto has just put pen to paper on a groundbreaking $765 million, 15-year deal with the New York Mets, as per reports from various sources. This marks the largest-ever contract seen in the world of professional sports.
Soto’s new agreement exceeds the previous record set by Shohei Ohtani, a two-way star, last season. Ohtani secured a 10-year, $700 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, with $680 million of it deferred. Despite recovering from elbow surgery in the offseason and only contributing as a hitter, Ohtani, who clinched his third MVP title in 2024, still holds the top spot for highest average annual value at $70 million per annum.
For the Yankees, Soto saw action in 145 games in right field and six in left field.
Soto truly emerged as the top target in the market, prompting team executives to make swift trips to Southern California to meet with him and his representative, Scott Boras, early in the offseason. The Yankees, Mets, Dodgers, Boston Red Sox, Toronto Blue Jays, and Philadelphia Phillies were among the clubs that made significant efforts to lure him. The initial reports were brought to light by ESPN and the New York Post.
One can argue that Soto played a pivotal role in the Yankees’ progress from 82 wins and missing the playoffs in 2023 to this year’s 94 wins and a loss in the World Series in a five-game showdown against the Dodgers.
From his rookie days at just 19 years old, Soto has consistently elevated his teams, securing the 2019 World Series with the Nationals, bringing the Padres within three wins of the World Series in 2022, and powering the New York team back to the Fall Classic this season with 41 home runs.
“When surrounded by great players, active in bustling markets, and part of championship scenarios, each element contributes significantly—it’s like an impeccable checklist,” Boras mentioned earlier in the negotiations.
The Yankees had not tasted World Series victory, or even made an appearance since 2009, and were eager to bring Soto back, despite the significantly higher rate compared to the nine-year, $360 million deal they secured with their homegrown star, Aaron Judge, as a free agent two years back.
Following Judge’s recent American League MVP win last month, he expressed contentment with the development.
“It’s not my concern. As long as we are acquiring top-notch players and maximizing our opportunities, I am satisfied with any outcome,” Judge articulated. “The financial aspect has never been a priority for me.”
In the final analysis, the winning bid emerged from the neighboring town. With Soto satisfying all the criteria for a free agent, it falls to the Mets’ billionaire owner, Steve Cohen, to sign the check.
This moment marked the culmination of Soto and Boras’ anticipation since Soto declined a 15-year, $440 million proposition from the Nationals in 2022, subsequently leading to his trade to San Diego. The Padres, unable to sustain his $31 million arbitration-eligible salary for 2024 and foreseeing difficulties in retaining him as a free agent, traded him to the Yankees last December.
Unlike last year’s free agent negotiations involving Ohtani, the talks with Soto were less prolonged and tiresome. Ohtani delayed announcing his decision to join the Dodgers until after the league’s traditional hot stove Winter Meetings, which temporarily stalled the market activities.
Image Source: Juan Soto @ Instagram
