Juan Soto Contract With Mets Has No Deferrals, Shattering Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers Deal
Juan Soto is laughing all the way to the bank after reportedly signing a 15-year, $765 million contract with the New York Mets on Sunday night.
Major League Baseball insider Alden González of ESPN added to the details of Soto’s contract minutes after news initially broke stating “there are no deferrals” in the massive deal and it has escalators that can reach above $800 million.
The Mets outbid the Yankees with their offer, surpassing the $760 million, 16-year deal New York proposed after Soto helped carry their offense to the 2024 World Series, according to MLB.com. The Mets’ deal offered an average annual value of $51 million, exceeding the Yankees’ $47.5 million by $3.5 million per year.
Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the agreement “has an opt-out clause after five seasons just in case it’s somehow undervalued after the 2029 season.”
The most coveted free agents of this century include Alex Rodríguez, an elite 25-year-old shortstop in 2000, and Shohei Ohtani, a groundbreaking two-way star last offseason. Juan Soto, despite being a subpar corner outfielder, ranks just behind them, with teams placing immense value on his exceptional hitting ability at such a young age.
Soto’s contract now blows away those of Rodríguez and Ohtani. Ohtani signed with the Dodgers last offseason for 10 years, $700 million, and deferred $680 million of it. At the time, it was the largest contract baseball had ever seen.
Soto, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Oct. 25 — the day of Game 1 of the World Series — boasts an impressive resume. A four-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger, he’s also a batting champion, Home Run Derby winner, and World Series champion. Now, he owns the richest contract in professional sports history.
Since his 2018 debut with the Washington Nationals, Soto has led Major League Baseball with a .421 career on-base percentage. His .532 slugging percentage ranks seventh, while his .953 OPS and 158 wRC+ place him fourth. Additionally, his 201 career home runs rank ninth.
However, Soto is coming off his best season to date. He delivered one of his finest performances in the 2024 season with the Yankees, posting a .288/.419/.569 slash line. He set career highs with 41 home runs and 128 runs scored. He ranked second in the majors in on-base percentage, trailing only teammate Aaron Judge, and placed fourth in slugging percentage. He also finished third in OPS, third in wRC+, and fourth in fWAR, solidifying his status as one of baseball’s elite hitters.
In 2022, Soto turned down 15 years, $440 million from the Nationals. He trusted his gut and knew he would be worth more. Two years later, he’s here and hopefully will prove his worth.
More News: Juan Soto Signs With Mets Over Dodgers, Yankees, Others in Monumental Free Agent Deal
Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Yeaaaaa!!! If it’s even possible, and I could post dancing banana emojis here I would. I don’t care where he signed, as long as it wasn’t with the Dodgers. As far as I’m concerned it’s a WIN!!!
100+10% in agreement. Juan Sotos Egotistical Character does. Go Well with The Dodgers Next man up, do whatever is required of me for the good of The Team, Mentality. SOTO wouldn’t mix well in Dodgers Club house as every Dodger on the 40 man roster has a roll to play that’s Significant to manufacturing the end result…A World Series Championship. Kike, Hernandez, Chris Taylor and Miguel Rojas Would Contribute more value to the team than Soto. And at a fraction of the cost. Plus Seven Positions are covered. Thank The Big Dodger in Blue Heaven The Mets have to deal with Soto. I think Ultimately The New York Mets will Regret this deal before 2029
You can say that again!
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You can say that again!
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