Superstar outfielder Juan Soto, the top free agent in MLB this offseason, reportedly agreed to a deal with the New York Mets. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Soto received a 15-year, $765 million deal that now stands as the largest in the history of professional sport.
Soto’s deal comes with a $75 million signing bonus and an opt-out after the first five years. In case Soto decides to stay with the Mets past 2029, he will receive a $4 million raise for the remaining 10 years. This will push the value of his deal to $800 million.
The previous largest deal belonged to Japanese two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani, who received a $10-year, $700 million contract from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason. However, Ohtani’s deal came with $680 million in deferred money.
Soto spent the 2024 season with the New York Yankees, batting .288 with 41 home runs and 109 RBIs while helping the franchise reach the World Series and finishing third in AL MVP voting. The combination of his age (he turned 26 in October), powerful bat, durability, and overall feel for the game drew interest from numerous teams and made him a star of this year’s free agency.
However, the Mets were always considered the favorites to land Soto. Their wealthy owner, Steve Cohen, previously showed that he is willing to shell out for big-name agents, and it was believed that he was willing to top any competing bid. Additionally, Soto would immediately become the face of a franchise that has a great roster but lacks traditional star power.
The Yankees were reportedly aggressive in trying to retain Soto, offering him a 16-year, $760 million pact. However, the lower value of the deal and the need to share the spotlight with Aaron Judge probably proved a determining factor in Soto’s decision. It is unclear whether the rest of the teams pursuing Soto, including the Toronto Blue Jays and Boston Red Sox, were willing to go above $700 million.
Soto received his MLB debut with the Washington Nationals in 2018 and later played for the San Diego Padres before landing with the Yankees ahead of the 2024 season. His career stats include a .285 batting average, 934 hits, 201 homers, and 592 RBIs. He has four All-Star nods, three All-MLB First Team honors, five Silver Slugger Awards, and a World Series win with the Nationals.
